| A case-control study was conducted to investigate the role of parental occupational exposures in the etiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 468 cases <19 years of age were ascertained through the Children's Cancer Group; 544 age- and race-matched controls were chosen via random-digit dialing. Occupational history and exposure information were obtained through telephone interviews.; Using conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated for exposures in the overall, preconception, pregnancy, and postnatal time periods. Exposures were examined separately and by use and chemical classes. The nature of exposure (direct, dermal, or respiratory) was considered, as was use of personal protective equipment and the wearing home of work clothes.; With respect to maternal exposures, AML was associated most strongly (and consistently) with exposure to printing inks, spray paints, sawdust/wood dust, and the use class “coal tar derivatives, exhaust, smoke.” Effect estimates were elevated for printing inks in all but the preconception period (range of aORs = 2.02–3.89); spray paints in all but the overall period (range of aORs = 2.02–8.30); and respiratory exposure to sawdust/wood dust in the preconception period (aOR = 3.00, 95% CI = 0.88, 10.16). “Coal tar derivatives, exhaust, smoke” showed elevated aORs in the postnatal period for both dermal (aOR = 3.81) and respiratory contact (aOR = 2.65, 95% CI = 0.66, 10.59).; With respect to paternal exposures, associations with AML were strongest for petroleum products, metals/metal compounds, and aromatic hydrocarbons/cresols. Elevated aORs were observed for paternal exposure to metals/metal compounds (range of aORs = 2.17–8.82) and petroleum products in all four time periods (range of aORs = 1.61–2.45), with several reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). Paternal respiratory contact with aromatic hydrocarbons/cresols was associated with childhood AML in the overall (aOR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.11, 4.52), preconception (aOR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.09, 6.18), and pregnancy (aOR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.01, 6.37) periods.; Results of this study support an association between certain parental occupational exposures and childhood AML, particularly hydrocarbons. Several exposures warrant further investigation to better understand their role in the etiology of AML in offspring, namely printing inks, paints, wood dust, petroleum products, and metals. |
