Occupational exposure to ethylene oxide and risk of lymphoma

Kiran, S. et al. (2010) Occupational exposure to ethylene oxide and risk of lymphoma. Epidemiology, 21(6), pp. 905-910. (doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181f4cc0f) (PMID:20811284)

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Abstract

Background: Ethylene oxide, a high-volume commodity, is an established human carcinogen, although the relevant epidemiologic evidence is limited. Methods: We explored the association between occupational exposure to ethylene oxide and risk of lymphoma in a case-control study, including 2347 lymphoma cases first diagnosed in 1998–2004 and 2463 controls, from 6 European countries. The diagnosis of lymphoma was based on the 2001 World Health Organization Classification of lymphoma. Occupational exposure to ethylene oxide was retrospectively assessed by industrial hygienists and occupational physicians based on detailed self-reported information. We modeled risk of lymphoma with unconditional logistic regression analysis as a function of various exposure measures, adjusting for age, sex, and participating center. Results: Thirty-one cases and 27 controls (1.2% of the total study population) were defined as ever having been exposed to ethylene oxide (odds ratio = 1.3 [95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7–2.1]). Lymphoma risk showed a 4.3-fold increase associated with medium-high frequency of exposure to ethylene oxide (95% CI = 1.4–13). Among major subtypes, chronic lymphocytic leukemia was consistently associated with ethylene oxide exposure, related in a dose-response manner to probability, frequency, and duration of exposure, as well as to cumulative exposure and (less definitively) with exposure intensity. Conclusions: Our results add to the evidence that ethylene oxide is a human carcinogen.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Kiran, Professor Sibel
Authors: Kiran, S., Cocco, P., Mannetje, A., Satta, G., DʼAndrea, I., Becker, N., de Sanjosé, S., Foretova, L., Staines, A., Kleefeld, S., Maynadié, M., Nieters, A., Brennan, P., and Boffetta, P.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
Journal Name:Epidemiology
Publisher:Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
ISSN:1044-3983
ISSN (Online):1531-5487

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