title: Risk of leukemia and multiple myeloma associated with exposure to benzene and other organic solvents: evidence from the Italian Multicenter Case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While there is a general consensus about the ability of benzene to induce acute myeloid leukemia (AML), its effects on chronic lymphoid leukemia and multiple myeloma (MM) are still under debate. We conducted a population-based case-control study to evaluate the association between exposure to organic solvents and risk of myeloid and lymphoid leukemia and MM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred eighty-six cases of leukemia (and 1,278 population controls), 263 cases of MM (and 1,100 population controls) were collected. Experts assessed exposure at individual level to a range of chemicals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no association between exposure to any solvent and AML. There were elevated point estimates for the associations between medium/high benzene exposure and chronic lymphatic leukemia (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 0.9-3.9) and MM (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.9-3.9). Risks of chronic lymphatic leukemia were somewhat elevated, albeit with wide confidence intervals, from medium/high exposure to xylene and toluene as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not confirm the known association between benzene and AML, though this is likely explained by the strict regulation of benzene in Italy nearly three decades prior to study initiation. Our results support the association between benzene, xylene, and toluene and chronic lymphatic leukemia and between benzene and MM with longer latencies than have been observed for AML in other studies.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, Center for Study and Prevention of Cancer, Florence, Italy. a.seniori@cspo.it
authors.forename: Adele Seniori
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benvenuti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vineis
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kriebel
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tumino
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramazzotti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodella
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stagnaro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crosignani
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amadori
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mirabelli
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sommani
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Belletti
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Troschel
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: Giulio Andrea
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.forename: Igino
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendico
authors.forename: Simona Alberghini
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Maltoni
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miligi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects; D014992:Xylenes / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene