title: Childhood brain tumours: associations with parental occupational exposure to solvents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parental occupational exposures have been associated with childhood brain tumours (CBT), but results are inconsistent. Few studies have studied CBT risk and parental solvent exposure, suggesting a possible association. We examined the association between CBT and parental occupational exposure to solvents in a case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of 306 cases and 950 controls completed detailed occupational histories. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for both maternal and paternal exposure to benzene, other aromatics, aliphatics and chlorinated solvents in key time periods relative to the birth of their child. Adjustments were made for matching variables (child's age, sex and state of residence), best parental education and occupational exposure to diesel exhaust.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increased risk of CBT was observed with maternal occupational exposures to chlorinated solvents (OR=8.59, 95% CI 0.94-78.9) any time before birth. Paternal exposure to solvents in the year before conception was associated with an increased CBT risk: OR=1.55 (95% CI 0.99-2.43). This increased risk appeared to be mainly attributable to exposure to aromatic solvents: OR=2.72 (95% CI 0.94-7.86) for benzene and OR=1.76 (95% CI 1.10-2.82) for other aromatics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that parental occupational exposures to solvents may be related to an increased risk of CBT.
authors: Occupational Respiratory Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Peters
authors: Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Glass
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6008, Australia.
authors: K R
authors: KR
authors: Greenop
authors: 1] Sax Institute, Haymarket, New South Wales 2000, Australia [2] Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors: B K
authors: BK
authors: Armstrong
authors: Department of Haematology & Oncology, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kirby
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6008, Australia.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Milne
authors: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Fritschi
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018812:Paternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents