Occupational benzene exposure and the risk of chronic myeloid leukemia: a meta-analysis of cohort studies incorporating study quality dimensions.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We documented previously that if study quality is accounted for, evidence from occupational cohort studies on benzene supports a possible association with some lymphoma subtypes, in particular multiple myeloma, and acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Here, we extend these analyses to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

METHODS:

Three strategies to assess study quality (stratification by the year-of-start of follow-up, stratification by the strength of the reported acute myeloid leukemia (AML) association, and stratification by the quality of benzene exposure assessment) were employed in a meta-analysis of occupational benzene exposure and CML. We hypothesized that stratification by these study quality dimensions would identify a subgroup of occupational cohort studies that is most informative for the evaluation of the possible association between benzene and CML.

RESULTS:

The overall meta-relative risk (mRR) was non-significantly elevated (1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-1.63). The mRRs increased with increasing study quality for all dimensions with a significant elevation for studies with start of follow-up after 1970 (1.67; 95% CI: 1.02-2.74). The highest study quality stratum for AML significance and exposure quality showed an elevated but non-significant increased mRR (1.40; 95% CI: 0.86-2.27, and 1.68; 95% CI: 0.74-3.84, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Although limited by low statistical power, the current meta-analysis provides support for a possible association of occupational exposure to benzene and the risk of CML.

• Authors: Jelle Vlaanderen, Qing Lan, Hans Kromhout, Nathaniel Rothman, Roel Vermeulen
• Journal: American journal of industrial medicine (Am J Ind Med) Vol. 55 Issue 9 Pg. 779-85 (Sep 2012) ISSN: 1097-0274 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22729623 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Carcinogens, Environmental
• Benzene

Topics

• Benzene (adverse effects)
• Carcinogens, Environmental (adverse effects)
• Cohort Studies
• Humans
• Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive (chemically induced)
• Occupational Diseases (chemically induced)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Risk Factors