A case-control study of leukemia among petroleum workers.
This case-control study evaluates the relationship between leukemia and the work histories of active and retired employees of a large petroleum company. The study includes 69 cases with leukemia and 284 matched controls. Employment in production-related work in the oil and gas division was associated with myelogenous leukemia (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .97 to 4.2) and particularly with acute myelogenous leukemia (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.1 to 7.3). The association with acute myelogenous leukemia was strongest for subjects in the highest tertile (32+ years) of duration of employment in oil- and gas production-related work (OR = 8.7, 95% CI = 2.0 to 37), and there was a consistent trend of increasing ORs with increasing duration of employment (P = .01). No clear association was observed for refining division work and leukemia. This is the first epidemiologic study reporting a positive association between oil and gas field work and acute myelogenous leukemia.
Sathiakumar
N
N
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-0008, USA.
Delzell
E
E
Cole
P
P
Brill
I
I
Frisch
J
J
Spivey
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002617:Chemical Industry; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007938:Leukemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
D010578:Petroleum