Case-control study of canine malignant lymphoma: positive association with dog owner's use of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicides.
A hospital-based case-control study of companion dogs examined the risk of developing canine malignant lymphoma associated with the use of chemicals in and about the home. Information from a self-administered owner questionnaire and/or a telephone interview of about 491 cases, 466 nontumor controls, and 479 tumor controls indicated that owners in households with dogs that developed malignant lymphoma applied 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicides to their lawn and/or employed commercial lawn care companies to treat their yard significantly more frequently than control owners (odds ratio = 1.3). In addition, the risk of canine malignant lymphoma rose to a twofold excess with four or more yearly owner applications of 2,4-D. The findings in this study are consistent with occupational studies in humans, which have reported modest associations between agricultural exposure to 2,4-D and increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the histology and epidemiology of which are similar to those of canine malignant lymphoma. The present study suggests that human health implications of 2,4-D exposure in the home environment should receive further investigation.
Hayes
H M
HM
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Tarone
R E
RE
Cantor
K P
KP
Jessen
C R
CR
McCurnin
D M
DM
Richardson
R C
RC
D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid