Risk factors for leukemia in Thailand

Ann Hematol. 2009 Nov;88(11):1079-88. doi: 10.1007/s00277-009-0731-9. Epub 2009 Mar 18.

Abstract

A case-control study of adult-onset leukemia was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand to explore the contribution of cellular telephone use and other factors to the etiology of the disease; 180 cases (87 acute myeloblastic leukemia, 40 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 44 chronic myelogenous leukemia, eight chronic lymphocytic leukemia, one unclassified acute leukemia) were compared with 756 age- and sex-matched hospital controls. Data were obtained by interview; odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression. There was no clear association with cellular telephone phone use, but durations were relatively short (median 24-26 months), and there was a suggestion that risk may be increased for those with certain usage practices (ORs, 1.8-3.0 with lower confidence intervals >1.0) and those who used GSM service (OR, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.0). Myeloid leukemia (acute and chronic combined) was associated with benzene (OR, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-11), a nonspecific group of other solvents (2.3; 1.1-4.9), occupational pesticides that were mostly unspecified (3.8; 2.1-7.1), and working with or near powerlines (4.3; 1.3-15). No associations were found for diagnostic X-rays, cigarette smoking, or other occupational exposures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Benzene / adverse effects
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Phone
  • Electromagnetic Fields / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / epidemiology*
  • Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / epidemiology
  • Leukemia, Radiation-Induced / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Pesticides / adverse effects
  • Radiography / adverse effects
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Solvents / adverse effects
  • Thailand / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Pesticides
  • Solvents
  • Benzene