Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Risk factors for leukemia in Thailand

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Hematology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A case-control study of adult-onset leukemia was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand to explore the contribution of cellular telephone use and other factors to the etiology of the disease; 180 cases (87 acute myeloblastic leukemia, 40 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 44 chronic myelogenous leukemia, eight chronic lymphocytic leukemia, one unclassified acute leukemia) were compared with 756 age- and sex-matched hospital controls. Data were obtained by interview; odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression. There was no clear association with cellular telephone phone use, but durations were relatively short (median 24–26 months), and there was a suggestion that risk may be increased for those with certain usage practices (ORs, 1.8–3.0 with lower confidence intervals >1.0) and those who used GSM service (OR, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–4.0). Myeloid leukemia (acute and chronic combined) was associated with benzene (OR, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–11), a nonspecific group of other solvents (2.3; 1.1–4.9), occupational pesticides that were mostly unspecified (3.8; 2.1–7.1), and working with or near powerlines (4.3; 1.3–15). No associations were found for diagnostic X-rays, cigarette smoking, or other occupational exposures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J et al (2005) Global cancer statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 55:74–108. doi:10.3322/canjclin.55.2.74

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Sandler DP, Ross JA (1997) Epidemiology of acute leukemia in children and adults. Semin Oncol 24:3–16

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Savitz DA, Andrews KW (1997) Review of epidemiologic evidence on benzene and lymphatic and hematopoietic cancers. Am J Ind Med 31:287–295. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199703)31:3<287::AID-AJIM4>3.0.CO;2-V

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hayes RB, Songnian Y, Dosemeci M et al (2001) Benzene and lymphohematopoietic malignancies in humans. Am J Ind Med 40:117–126. doi:10.1002/ajim.1078

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bloemen LJ, Youk A, Bradley TD et al (2004) Lymphohaematopoietic cancer risk among chemical workers exposed to benzene. Occup Environ Med 61:270–274. doi:10.1136/oem.2003.007013

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Preston DL, Kusumi S, Tomonaga M et al (1994) Cancer incidence in atomic bomb survivors. Part III. Leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, 1950–1987. Radiat Res 137:S68–S97. doi:10.2307/3578893

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cartwright RA (1992) Leukaemia epidemiology and radiation risks. Blood Rev 6:10–14. doi:10.1016/0268-960X(92)90003-9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Evans JS, Wennberg JE, McNeil BJ (1986) The influence of diagnostic radiography on the incidence of breast cancer and leukemia. N Engl J Med 315:810–815

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Van Maele-Fabry G, Duhayon S, Lison D (2007) A systematic review of myeloid leukemias and occupational pesticide exposure. Cancer Causes Control 18:457–478. doi:10.1007/s10552-007-0122-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Thomas X, Chelghoum Y (2004) Cigarette smoking and acute leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 45:1103–1109. doi:10.1080/10428190310001638904

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ahlbom A, Cardis E, Green A et al (2001) Review of the epidemiologic literature on EMF and health. Environ Health Perspect 109(suppl 6):911–933. doi:10.2307/3454653

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hardell L, Carlberg M, Soderqvist F et al (2007) Long-term use of cellular phones and brain tumours: increased risk associated with use for > or =10 years. Occup Environ Med 64:626–632. doi:10.1136/oem.2006.029751

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. WTR (1995) Potential public health risks from wireless technology. Risk evaluation research: progress, priorities, and request for proposals. Wireless Technology Research. LLC, Washington DC

  14. Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT et al (1976) Proposals for the classification of the acute leukaemias. French–American–British (FAB) co-operative group. Br J Haematol 33:451–458. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.1976.tb03563.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT et al (1985) Proposed revised criteria for the classification of acute myeloid leukemia. A report of the French-American-British Cooperative Group. Ann Intern Med 103:620–625

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wasi P, Piankijagum A, Issaragrisil S (1987) Geographical variation in blood disease. Southeast Asia. In: Weatherall DJ, Ledingham LGG, Warrel DA (eds) Oxford Textbook of Medicine. Oxford Medical Publications, Oxford, pp 19.266–19.8

    Google Scholar 

  17. Breslow NE, Day NE (1980) Statistical methods in cancer research. Volume I—the analysis of case-control studies. IARC Sci Publ 32:5–338

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Sriamporn S, Black RJ, Sankaranarayanan R et al (1995) Cancer survival in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. Int J Cancer 61:296–300. doi:10.1002/ijc.2910610303

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sriamporn S, Vatanasapt V, Martin N et al (1996) Incidence of childhood cancer in Thailand 1988–1991. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 10:73–85. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3016.1996.tb00028.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Mitacek EJ, Brunnemann KD, Polednak AP et al (2002) Rising leukemia rates in Thailand: the possible role of benzene and related compounds in cigarette smoke. Oncol Rep 9:1399–1403

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Serrano T (2008) Are cell phones causing cancer? (Accessed March 24, 2008, at http://www.emf-health.com/articles-cellphones-cancer.htm.)

  22. Ahlbom A, Green A, Kheifets L et al (2004) Epidemiology of health effects of radiofrequency exposure. Environ Health Perspect 112:1741–1754

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dreyer NA, Loughlin JE, Rothman KJ (1999) Cause-specific mortality in cellular telephone users. JAMA 282:1814–1816. doi:10.1001/jama.282.19.1814-a

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Johansen C, Boice J Jr, McLaughlin J et al (2001) Cellular telephones and cancer–a nationwide cohort study in Denmark. J Natl Cancer Inst 93:203–207. doi:10.1093/jnci/93.3.203

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Brandt L (1992) Exposure to organic solvents and risk of haematological malignancies. Leuk Res 16:67–70. doi:10.1016/0145-2126(92)90103-E

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Descatha A, Jenabian A, Conso F et al (2005) Occupational exposures and haematological malignancies: overview on human recent data. Cancer Causes Control 16:939–953. doi:10.1007/s10552-005-2301-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Merhi M, Raynal H, Cahuzac E et al (2007) Occupational exposure to pesticides and risk of hematopoietic cancers: meta-analysis of case-control studies. Cancer Causes Control 18:1209–1226. doi:10.1007/s10552-007-9061-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Savitz DA, Calle EE (1987) Leukemia and occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields: review of epidemiologic surveys. J Occup Med 29:47–51

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Coleman M, Beral V (1988) A review of epidemiological studies of the health effects of living near or working with electricity generation and transmission equipment. Int J Epidemiol 17:1–13. doi:10.1093/ije/17.1.1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sahl JD, Kelsh MA, Greenland S (1993) Cohort and nested case-control studies of hematopoietic cancers and brain cancer among electric utility workers. Epidemiology 4:104–114. doi:10.1097/00001648-199303000-00005

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Cantor KP, Blair A, Everett G et al (1988) Hair dye use and risk of leukemia and lymphoma. Am J Public Health 78:570–571. doi:10.2105/AJPH.78.5.570

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Rauscher GH, Sandler DP, Poole C et al (2002) Family history of cancer and incidence of acute leukemia in adults. Am J Epidemiol 156:517–526. doi:10.1093/aje/kwf075

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Dr. Issaragrisil is a Senior Research Scholar of Thailand Research Fund (grant no RTA 488-0007) and also supported by Commission on Higher Education (grant no. CHE-RES-RG-49). The authors greatly appreciate the contributions of the study interviewers. We also wish to thank John Farrell for developing the study database and Judith Kelly for her help with protocol development.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    David W. Kaufman & Theresa E. Anderson

  2. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand

    Surapol Issaragrisil

Authors
  1. David W. Kaufman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Theresa E. Anderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Surapol Issaragrisil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Surapol Issaragrisil.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kaufman, D.W., Anderson, T.E. & Issaragrisil, S. Risk factors for leukemia in Thailand. Ann Hematol 88, 1079–1088 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-009-0731-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-009-0731-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation