Occupational solvent exposure and risk of meningioma: results from the INTEROCC multicentre case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine associations between occupational exposure to selected organic solvents and meningioma.


METHODS
A multicentre case-control study conducted in seven countries, including 1906 cases and 5565 controls. Occupational exposure to selected classes of organic solvents (aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons and 'other' organic solvents) or seven specific solvents (benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethylene, methylene chloride and gasoline) was assessed using lifetime occupational histories and a modified version of the FINJEM job-exposure matrix (INTEROCC-JEM). Study participants were classified as 'exposed' when they had worked in an occupation for at least 1 year, with a 5-year lag, in which the estimated prevalence of exposure was 25% or greater in the INTEROCC-JEM. Associations between meningioma and each of the solvent exposures were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders.


RESULTS
A total of 6.5% of study participants were ever exposed to 'any' solvent, with a somewhat greater proportion of controls (7%) ever exposed compared with cases (5%), but only one case was ever exposed to any chlorinated hydrocarbon (1,1,1-trichloroethane). No association was observed between any of the organic solvents and meningioma, in either men or women, and no dose-response relationships were observed in internal analyses using either exposure duration or cumulative exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence that occupational exposure to these organic solvents is associated with meningioma.
Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
Dave
D
McLean
Sarah
S
Fleming
Michelle C
MC
Turner
Laurel
L
Kincl
Lesley
L
Richardson
Geza
G
Benke
Brigitte
B
Schlehofer
Klaus
K
Schlaefer
Marie-Elise
ME
Parent
Martine
M
Hours
Daniel
D
Krewski
Martie
M
van Tongeren
Siegal
S
Sadetzki
Jack
J
Siemiatycki
Elisabeth
E
Cardis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D008579:Meningioma / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
D012997:Solvents