Occupational and environmental risk factors for brain cancer: a pilot case-control study in France.
BACKGROUND
The increased incidence of malignant primary brain tumors (MPBT) reported in several studies could be due to environmental factors. To estimate the chemical and physical risk factors of these tumors in southeastern France, a pilot case-control study that included all new MPBT cases diagnosed in 2005 in the main brain cancer treatment centers in the western section of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region.


METHODS
Age-, sex-, and hospital-matched controls were selected from the neurosurgery department of the same hospital. An occupational physician, using a standardized questionnaire, collected information on suspected risk factors of MPBT in a face-to-face interview at the hospital of all case and control subjects. Data collected included jobs held, various exposures throughout working life, and leisure time activities.


RESULTS
The study included 122 cases and 122 controls. No particular job was identified as a major risk factor for brain cancer. Risk was significantly higher among those who used glue (OR=17.58, 95% CI 1.75 - 176.62) during leisure activities and significantly lower among those residing near cellular telephone towers (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.26 - 0.92).


CONCLUSIONS
Several new hypotheses about the effects of cellular telephone towers and chemical exposure merit further analytic studies.
Spinelli
Valérie
V
Consultation de Pathologie Professionnelle, Service de Médecine et Santé et Travail, Hôpital Timone Adultes, F-13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France.
Chinot
Olivier
O
Cabaniols
Cécilia
C
Giorgi
Roch
R
Alla
Philippe
P
Lehucher-Michel
Marie-Pascale
MP
D000269:Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D040421:Cell Phone; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000269:Adhesives