title: Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and organic solvents.
abstract: Organic solvents have been suggested as a possible risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). We studied 109 NHL incident cases and 276 controls with other cancers (1990/1996) in the city of Salvador, Brazil. Occupational exposure to organic solvents was evaluated through standardized questionnaires and defined by industrial hygienists, taking into account individuals' lifetime history. An association between occupational exposure to organic solvents and NHL was observed, OR = 1.67 (95% CI, 0.97 to 2.87), especially among individuals less than 64 years, OR = 1.91 (95% CI, 0.99 to 3.67), and among those who used domestic insecticides, OR = 2.24 (95% CI, 1.01 to 3.97). Odds ratios were similar for nodal and diffuse NHL. These results suggest that organic solvents may contribute to the causation of NHL, especially among young individuals, and that synergism may play a role in the process of lymphomagenesis.
authors.affiliation: Workers Health Center-CESAT, Health Department of Bahia State, Brasil. mrego@lognet.com.br
authors.forename: Marco Antĵnio Vasconcelos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rêgo
authors.forename: Cláudio Sérgio Campos
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Albertinho Barreto
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loomis
authors.forename: Fernando Martins
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents; D001554:Benzene