NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search
The Upper Midwest Health Study: a case-control study of pesticide applicators and risk of glioma.
Authors
Yiin-JH; Ruder-AM; Stewart-PA; Waters-MA; Carreón-T; Butler-MA; Calvert-GM; Davis-King-KE; Schulte-PA; Mandel-JS; Morton-RF; Reding-DJ; Rosenman-KD
Source
Environ Health Glob Access Sci Source 2012 Jun; 11:39
NIOSHTIC No.
20040932
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An excess incidence of brain cancer in farmers has been noted in several studies. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health developed the Upper Midwest Health Study (UMHS) as a case-control study of intracranial gliomas and pesticide uses among rural residents. Previous studies of UMHS participants, using "ever-never" exposure to farm pesticides and analyzing men and women separately, found no positive association of farm pesticide exposure and glioma risks. The primary objective was to determine if quantitatively estimated exposure of pesticide applicators was associated with an increased risk of glioma in male and female participants. METHODS: The study included 798 histologically confirmed primary intracranial glioma cases (45 % with proxy respondents) and 1,175 population-based controls, all adult (age 18-80) nonmetropolitan residents of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The analyses used quantitatively estimated exposure from questionnaire responses evaluated by an experienced industrial hygienist with 25 years of work on farm pesticide analyses. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional logistic regression modeling were calculated adjusting for frequency-matching variables (10-year age group and sex), and for age and education (a surrogate for socioeconomic status). Analyses were separately conducted with or without proxy respondents. RESULTS: No significant positive associations with glioma were observed with cumulative years or estimated lifetime cumulative exposure of farm pesticide use. There was, a significant inverse association for phenoxy pesticide used on the farm (OR 0.96 per 10 g-years of cumulative exposure, CI 0.93-0.99). No significant findings were observed when proxy respondents were excluded. Non-farm occupational applicators of any pesticide had decreased glioma risk: OR 0.72, CI 0.52-0.99. Similarly, house and garden pesticide applicators had a decreased risk of glioma: OR 0.79, CI 0.66-0.93, with statistically significant inverse associations for use of 2,4-D, arsenates, organophosphates, and phenoxys. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with our previous findings for UMHS of reported farm pesticide exposure and support a lack of positive association between pesticides and glioma.
Keywords
Brain-disorders; Brain-damage; Brain-tumors; Cancer; Farmers; Pesticides; Pesticides-and-agricultural-chemicals; Humans; Men; Women; Exposure-levels; Age-groups; Questionnaires;
Author Keywords: Pesticides; Glioma; Brain cancer; Upper Midwest; Case-control; Farmers; Applicators; Gardens
CODEN
EHAGAB
CAS No.
50-29-3; 50-29-3
Publication Date
20120612
Document Type
Journal Article
Fiscal Year
2012
Identifying No.
B07092012
ISSN
1476-069X
NIOSH Division
DSHEFS; DART; EID
Priority Area
Manufacturing
Source Name
Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source
State
OH; MD; MN; IA; WI; MI
Page last reviewed: May 5, 2020
Content source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Education and Information Division