Cytogenetic and morphologic subgroups of myelodysplastic syndromes in relation to occupational and hobby exposures.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the association between occupational and hobby exposure and the risk of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) while focusing on differential patterns of clonal chromosome aberrations and morphologic subgroups.


METHODS
A case-referent study was conducted with 330 MDS patients investigated cytogenetically in 1976-1993 (cases) and matched referents. Telephone interviews with either the person or a next-of-kin were used. The participation rate of the cases and referents was 85% and 60%, respectively. Information was obtained from the next-of-kin more often for the cases (88%) than for the referents (26%). Occupational hygienists assessed the exposure using interview data on worktasks and hobbies. Associations with disease risk were evaluated for 10 exposures with a logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The investigated exposures were generally not associated with cytogenetically abnormal MDS. Effect estimates for specific cytogenetic or morphologic subgroups were generally imprecise. Occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (EMF) was associated with MDS with a normal karyotype [odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0-4.0]. The exposure-response association was consistent for intensity but inconclusive for duration. A decreased risk was observed for MDS, irrespective of karyotypic pattern, among farmers and farmhands (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.81).


CONCLUSIONS
Cytogenetically abnormal MDS was generally not associated with occupational or hobby exposure to known or suspected genotoxic agents. However, exposure prevalences and intensities were low for several agents. An association was suggested between occupational exposure to EMF and MDS with a normal karyotype. Biases due to differential information quality and selective participation cannot be ruled out.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. maria.albin@ymed.lu.se
Maria
M
Albin
Jonas
J
Björk
Hans
H
Welinder
Håkan
H
Tinnerberg
Nils
N
Mauritzson
Rolf
R
Billström
Ulf
U
Strömberg
Zoli
Z
Mikoczy
Bertil
B
Johansson
Tomas
T
Ahlgren
Per-Gunnar
PG
Nilsson
Felix
F
Mitelman
Lars
L
Hagmar
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology