Occupational exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between occupational exposure to ionizing, ultraviolet (UV), radiofrequency (RF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation and risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in a population-based case-control study.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 694 NHL cases, first diagnosed between 1 January 2000 and 31 August 2001, and 694 controls from two regions in Australia, matched by age, sex and region of residence. A detailed occupation history was first obtained using a lifetime calendar and a telephone interview. Exposure to radiation was then assessed using a Finnish job-exposure matrix (FINJEM). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated from logistic regression models that included the matching variables as covariates.


RESULTS
For ionizing radiation, the ORs were close to unity. For UV and ELF radiation, the highest exposed group of workers had ORs of 1.32 (95% CI=0.96-1.81) and 1.25 (95% CI=0.91-1.72), respectively. For UV radiation there was a positive dose-response when exposure was lagged by 5 and 10 years (P for trend 0.04 for both lag periods). Workers in the upper tertile of exposure for RF radiation had an OR of 3.15 (95% CI=0.63-15.87), but the estimate was based on very small numbers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results do not provide support for an association between NHL and occupational exposure to ionizing or ELF radiation. For UV radiation, our findings are consistent with a weak positive association. Further investigation focusing on UV and RF radiation and NHL is required.
Karipidis
Ken K
KK
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. ken.karipidis@arpansa.gov.au
Benke
Geza
G
Sim
Malcolm R
MR
Kauppinen
Timo
T
Kricker
Anne
A
Hughes
Ann Maree
AM
Grulich
Andrew E
AE
Vajdic
Claire M
CM
Kaldor
John
J
Armstrong
Bruce
B
Fritschi
Lin
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020958:Australian Capital Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects