Parental occupational exposure and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in offspring in Israel.
OBJECTIVE
Parental employment in occupations that have potential exposures to organic solvents or pesticides could be associated with the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in their offspring.


METHODS
We explored this hypothesis by studying the association with respect to exposure time windows. Our case-control study included 224 children, 112 diagnosed with ALL and 112 matched controls.


RESULTS
A significantly higher odds ratio (OR) was found between childhood ALL and reported parental occupational exposures. Analysis of exposures of both parents by exposure time windows revealed significant OR during the preconception and postnatal periods separately.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide support to the association between parental occupational exposures and ALL in their children. These results should be interpreted cautiously because of the small numbers, biases characterizing case-control studies, and the use of hospital-based controls.
National Institute of Occupational & Environmental Health, Shneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach-Tikva, Israel.
Ifat
I
Abadi-Korek
Batya
B
Stark
Rina
R
Zaizov
Judith
J
Shaham
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018812:Paternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010575:Pesticides; D012997:Solvents