Occupational exposures and haematological malignancies: overview on human recent data.
OBJECTIVE
Occupational causes of haematological malignancies are relatively uncommon, under-studied and under-identified. They are also often unrecognized by clinicians. This review summarizes the principal epidemiologic studies on this topic.


METHODS
We analyzed the recent relevant human data found in the Medline, the Pascal and the BDSP databases.


RESULTS
Benzene and ionizing radiation are the only agents conclusively demonstrated to be carcinogenic to the haematopoietic system. In particular, both exposures are strongly associated with acute myeloid leukaemia. Low doses of both may also be related to myeloid malignancies. Infectious agents and pesticides are also thought to induce lymphoproliferative cancers. Some studies show an association between haematological malignancies and low-frequency electromagnetic fields and organic solvents. All of these suspected occupational causes must be confirmed by further studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Better knowledge and understanding of occupational causes of haematological malignancies are necessary to improve their prevention and compensation.
Descatha
Alexis
A
Unité de pathologie professionnelle et de santé au travail, Hôpital R. Poincaré, AP-HP 92380 Garches, France. alexis.descatha@rpc.aphp.fr
Jenabian
Arash
A
Conso
Françoise
F
Ameille
Jacques
J
D015984:Causality; D002617:Chemical Industry; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D015386:Hazardous Substances