title: Incidence rates of lymphomas and environmental measurements of phenoxy herbicides: ecological analysis and case-control study.
abstract: The authors conducted an ecological study of the distribution of malignant lymphomas in a rice-growing area in northern Italy. They considered data on concentrations of phenoxy herbicides in soil and water and found the highest incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in subjects who lived in an area where 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid existed in very high concentrations. During 1985-1988, the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in males in the most-polluted municipalities was twice as high as was noted for the remaining less-polluted territories. During 1991-1993, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was higher by 60%. The authors also conducted a population-based case-control study. They found an association between employment of women in rice-growing jobs (particularly as rice weeders) and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (odds ratio=1.9; 95% confidence interval=0.6, 6.0). Work in rice fields was correlated strongly with residence in polluted areas. The authors did not detect an association between area of residence or occupation and incidence of Hodgkin's disease.
authors.affiliation: Local Unit of Public Health, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Picoco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prastaro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vineis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012275:Oryza; D010642:Phenoxyacetates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides; D010642:Phenoxyacetates; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical