title: Pesticide exposure in farming and forestry and the risk of uveal melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since pesticides are disputed risk factors for uveal melanoma, we studied the association between occupational pesticide exposure and uveal melanoma risk in a case-control study from nine European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incident cases of uveal melanoma and population as well as hospital controls were included and frequency-matched by country, 5-year age groups and sex. Self-reported exposure was quantified with respect to duration of exposure and pesticide application method. We calculated the exposure intensity level based on application method and use of personal protective equipment. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression analyses and adjusted for several potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  293 case and 3,198 control subjects were interviewed. We did not identify positive associations with activities in farming or forestry, pesticide application or pesticide mixing. No consistent positive associations were seen with exposure intensity level scores either. The only statistically significantly raised association in this study was for exposure to chemical fertilizers in forestry (OR = 8.93; 95% CI 1.73-42.13), but this observation was based on only six exposed subjects. Results did not change when we restricted analyses to morphologically verified cases and excluded proxy interviews as well as cancer controls. We did not observe effect modification by sex or eye color.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk estimates for pesticide exposures and occupational activities in agriculture and forestry were not increased and did not indicate a hormonal mechanism due to these exposures.
authors: Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany. tbehren@gmx.net
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Behrens
authors: Elsebeth
authors: E
authors: Lynge
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Cree
authors: Jean-Michel
authors: JM
authors: Lutz
authors: Mikael
authors: M
authors: Eriksson
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Guénel
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Merletti
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Morales-Suarez-Varela
authors: Noemia
authors: N
authors: Afonso
authors: Aivars
authors: A
authors: Stengrevics
authors: Joëlle
authors: J
authors: Févotte
authors: Svend
authors: S
authors: Sabroe
authors: Agustin
authors: A
authors: Llopis-González
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Gorini
authors: Lennart
authors: L
authors: Hardell
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Stang
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Ahrens
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016468:Forestry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000098943:Uveal Melanoma
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides