[Tumors of the hemolymphopoietic tract and employment in agriculture: a case-control study carried out in an epidemiologic area in southern Italy].

Abstract

To evaluate the role of agricultural exposures in the development of lymphatic and haemopoietic tumors a population-based case-referent study has been carried out in three health districts of Southern Italy. All incident cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma from 1 July 1987 to 30 June 1989, aged 14 years or more, have been identified (71 subjects). The control group is formed by subjects with other neoplasms. A Job Exposure Matrix, specific to 10 areas, to 6 major crops and to 4 calendar periods, was built for assessing pesticide exposure. To date 100 interviews (to the index subject or to proxies) have been carried out (26 cases and 74 referents). The odds ratio (OR) of hematologic malignancies for agricultural workers was 1.63 [95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI): 0.69-4.34] in the whole sample and 6.00 (95% CI: 1.21-25.52) in the female group. Significative increased risks have been observed for exposure to DDT and creolin (OR = 4.11; 95% CI: 1.16-14.55) and, for leukemia, for cattle breeders (OR = 6.38; 95% CI: 1.46-27.83).

• Authors: G Assennato, G M Ferri, G Tria, A Porro, L Macinagrossa, M Ruggieri
• Journal: Giornale italiano di medicina del lavoro (G Ital Med Lav) 1995 Jan-Nov Vol. 17 Issue 1-6 Pg. 91-7 ISSN: 0391-9889 [Print] Italy
• Vernacular Title: Tumori dell'apparato emolinfopoietico e lavoro in agricoltura: uno studio caso-controllo condotto in un'area epidemiologica del sud-barese.
• PMID: 8991832 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Pesticides

Topics

• Agricultural Workers' Diseases (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Leukemia (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Lymphoma (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multiple Myeloma (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Odds Ratio
• Pesticides (adverse effects)