title: Residential Exposure to Pesticide During Childhood and Childhood Cancers: A Meta-Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an increasing concern about chronic low-level pesticide exposure during childhood and its influence on childhood cancers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this meta-analysis, we aimed to examine associations between residential childhood pesticide exposures and childhood cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched all observational studies published in PubMed before February 2014 and reviewed reference sections of articles derived from searches.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature search yielded 277 studies that met inclusion criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. We calculated effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using a random effect model with inverse variance weights.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that childhood exposure to indoor but not outdoor residential insecticides was associated with a significant increase in risk of childhood leukemia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.26-1.72; I(2) = 30%) and childhood lymphomas (OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.15-1.78; I(2) = 0%). A significant increase in risk of leukemia was also associated with herbicide exposure (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.44; I(2) = 0%). Also observed was a positive but not statistically significant association between childhood home pesticide or herbicide exposure and childhood brain tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The small number of studies included in the analysis represents a major limitation of the current analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this meta-analysis indicated that children exposed to indoor insecticides would have a higher risk of childhood hematopoietic cancers. Additional research is needed to confirm the association between residential indoor pesticide exposures and childhood cancers. Meanwhile, preventive measures should be considered to reduce children's exposure to pesticides at home.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Chi-Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts cslu@hsph.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Chensheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012111:Residence Characteristics
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides