Parental occupational exposures to chemicals and incidence of neuroblastoma in offspring

To evaluate the effects of parental occupational chemical exposures on incidence of neuroblastoma in offspring, the authors conducted a multicenter case-control study, using detailed exposure information that allowed examination of specific chemicals. Cases were 538 children aged 19 years who were newly diagnosed with confirmed neuroblastoma in 1992-1994 and were registered at any of 139 participating hospitals in the United States and Canada. One age-matched control for each of 504 cases was selected through random digit dialing. Self-reported exposures were reviewed by an industrial hygienist, and improbable exposures were reclassified. Effect estimates were calculated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for child's age and maternal demographic factors. Maternal exposures to most chemicals were not associated with neuroblastoma. Paternal exposures to hydrocarbons such as diesel fuel (odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8, 2.6), lacquer thinner (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.6, 7.8), and turpentine (OR = 10.4; 95% CI: 2.4, 44.8) were associated with an increased incidence of neuroblastoma, as were exposures to wood dust (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 0.8, 2.8) and solders (OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 0.9, 7.1). The detailed exposure information available in this study has provided additional clues about the role of parental occupation as a risk factor for neuroblastoma.