In Utero Pesticide Exposure and Leukemia in Brazilian Children < 2 Years of Age
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/2012/10/in-utero-pesticide-exposure-and-leukemia-in-brazilian-children-2-years-of-age/
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/2012/10/in-utero-pesticide-exposure-and-leukemia-in-brazilian-children-2-years-of-age/
Ferreira JD, Couto AC, Pombo-de-Oliveira MS, Koifman S, and the Brazilian Collaborative Study Group of Infant Acute Leukemia. In Utero Pesticide Exposure and Leukemia in Brazilian Children < 2 Years of Age Environ Health Perspect (): .doi:10.1289/ehp.1103942
Abstract
Background: An association between pesticides exposure and cancer has been suggested. Infant leukemia is a rare neoplasm and its association with maternal pesticide exposure has been poorly explored.
Objectives: To investigate the association between pesticide exposure during pregnancy and leukemia in children < 2 years of age.
Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was carried out in 15 Brazilian hospitals in 1999-2007. Mothers of 252 cases and those of 423 controls were interviewed. Information on pesticide exposures 3 months before pregnancy, throughout pregnancy, and during breastfeeding was obtained. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (adj. ORs) for associations between pesticide exposures and leukemia.
Results: Associations with ever use of pesticides during pregnancy were observed for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL (adj. OR 2.10; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.86) and acute myeloid leukemia, AML (adj. OR 5.01; 95% CI: 1.97, 12.7) in children age 0–11 months, and with ALL (adj. OR 1.88; 95% CI: 1.05, 5.23) at age 12-23 months. According to reported maternal exposure to permethrin, higher risk estimates were verified for children 0-11 months, adj. OR 2.47; 95% CI: 1.17, 5.25 for ALL, and adj. OR 7.28; 95% CI: 2.60, 20.38 for AML. Maternal pesticide exposure related to agricultural activities showed an adj. OR 5.25; 95% CI: 1.83, 15.08 for ALL, and an adj. OR 7.56; 95% CI: 1.83, 31.23 for AML.
Results: Associations with ever use of pesticides during pregnancy were observed for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL (adj. OR 2.10; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.86) and acute myeloid leukemia, AML (adj. OR 5.01; 95% CI: 1.97, 12.7) in children age 0–11 months, and with ALL (adj. OR 1.88; 95% CI: 1.05, 5.23) at age 12-23 months. According to reported maternal exposure to permethrin, higher risk estimates were verified for children 0-11 months, adj. OR 2.47; 95% CI: 1.17, 5.25 for ALL, and adj. OR 7.28; 95% CI: 2.60, 20.38 for AML. Maternal pesticide exposure related to agricultural activities showed an adj. OR 5.25; 95% CI: 1.83, 15.08 for ALL, and an adj. OR 7.56; 95% CI: 1.83, 31.23 for AML.
Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that pesticide exposure during pregnancy may be involved in the etiology of acute leukemia in children younger than age 2 years.
