Childhood leukemia in south-west Sardinia (Italy).
OBJECTIVE
Public concern on an increased incidence of childhood leukemia in SW Sardinia prompted the authors to an epidemiological investigation.


METHODS
Incident childhood neoplasms observed in the Cagliari province (Sardinia--Italy) in 1974-1989 were registered. Expected cases of the most frequent childhood cancers were calculated for each town, based on the sex-and age-specific incidence rates in the province.


RESULTS
An excess risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was observed in Carbonia, a town located in the SW part of the province. The risk was highest in 1983-85, when 7 cases occurred versus 0.8 expected (RR = 8.7; 95% C.I. = 4.6, 16.3). No spatial clustering of ALL cases was observed within the town.


CONCLUSIONS
A significantly higher than expected incidence of childhood ALL was observed in the town of Carbonia in 1983-85. In alternative to chance, possible exposure to environmental pollutants from a near industrial settlement is discussed as the cause of the observed excess, but it is far to be proven. Other hypotheses, including a viral infection in a population with increased susceptibility, as suggested for new urban settlements, cannot be discarded.
Cocco
P
P
Istituto di Medicina del Lavoro, Università di Cagliari, Italy.
Bernardinelli
L
L
Biddau
P
P
Montomoli
C
C
Murgia
G
G
Rapallo
M
M
Targhetta
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors