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Maternal exposure to household chemicals and risk of infant leukemia: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group

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Abstract

Objective

Utilizing data from the largest study to date, we examined associations between maternal preconception/prenatal exposure to household chemicals and infant acute leukemia.

Methods

We present data from a Children’s Oncology Group case–control study of 443 infants (<1 year of age) diagnosed with acute leukemia [including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)] between 1996 and 2006 and 324 population controls. Mothers recalled household chemical use 1 month before and throughout pregnancy. We used unconditional logistic regression adjusted for birth year, maternal age, and race/ethnicity to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

We did not find evidence for an association between infant leukemia and eight of nine chemical categories. However, exposure to petroleum products during pregnancy was associated with AML (OR = 2.54; 95% CI:1.40–4.62) and leukemia without mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements (“MLL−”) (OR = 2.69; 95% CI: 1.47–4.93). No associations were observed for exposure in the month before pregnancy.

Conclusions

Gestational exposure to petroleum products was associated with infant leukemia, particularly AML, and MLL− cases. Benzene is implicated as a potential carcinogen within this exposure category, but a clear biological mechanism has yet to be elucidated.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Cindy K. Blair and Michelle A. Roesler for their helpful comments and suggestions. This research is funded by National Institutes of Health Grants R01 CA79940, T32 CA99936, U10 CA13539, and U10 CA98543, U10 CA98413, P30 CA77598 (University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center shared resource: Health Survey Research Center), and the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Minneapolis, MN.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Megan E. Slater, Amy M. Linabery, Logan G. Spector, Kimberly J. Johnson & Julie A. Ross

  2. Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Joanne M. Hilden

  3. Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Nyla A. Heerema

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Leslie L. Robison

  5. University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Julie A. Ross

  6. Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 422, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Julie A. Ross

Authors
  1. Megan E. Slater
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  2. Amy M. Linabery
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  3. Logan G. Spector
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  4. Kimberly J. Johnson
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  5. Joanne M. Hilden
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  6. Nyla A. Heerema
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  7. Leslie L. Robison
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  8. Julie A. Ross
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie A. Ross.

Appendix: maternal telephone interview guide: household chemical exposure section

Appendix: maternal telephone interview guide: household chemical exposure section

Scripted question:

“Thinking about the month before your pregnancy, and during your pregnancy, did you come in contact with any of these products used in or around your house or apartment:”

  

Exposure category

Description from questionnaire/interview

Insecticides

Products used to control household insects, such as Raid, Black Flag bug spray, Ortho Hornet and Wasp Killer, no-pest strips, ant traps, or roach baits. This would include handling the product, having it in the living areas of your home, or being close enough to smell it.

Moth control

Products used to control moths, such as mothballs. This would include wearing or handling clothes that had been stored in mothballs.

Rodenticides

Products used around the home to control mice, rats, gophers, or moles, such as D-Con or Warfarin. This would include handling the product, having it in the living areas of your home, or being close enough to smell it.

Flea or tick control

Products used around your home to control fleas or ticks, such as Holiday, Four-Gone Foggers, or flea collars for pets. This would include handling the product, having it in the living areas of your home, or being close enough to smell it.

Herbicides

Home or garden products used around the house or apartment, such as dandelion killers, crabgrass killers, slug or snail baits, or treatments for plant and tree insects or diseases. This would include handling the product, being close enough to smell it, or walking on the grass within 3 days of treatment.

Insect repellants

Insect repellants, such as Off, Cutters, or Skintastic. (Skin contact).

Professional pest exterminations

Your home was treated by exterminators. (Treated by professional or self).

Paints, stains, lacquers

Paints, stains, or lacquers. This would include being in the area where paint was used or being close enough to smell the paint. (Own home only).

Petroleum products

Petroleum products, such as gasoline, kerosene, lubricating oils, or spot removers. This would not include pumping gas, unless you got gasoline on your skin. Does not include Vaseline. (Own home only).

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Slater, M.E., Linabery, A.M., Spector, L.G. et al. Maternal exposure to household chemicals and risk of infant leukemia: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Cancer Causes Control 22, 1197–1204 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9798-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9798-4

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