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Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health. EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and its content is free online. Print issues are available by paid subscription.DISCLAIMER
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Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 110, Number 3, March 2002 Open Access
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Childhood Cancer and Agricultural Pesticide Use: An Ecologic Study in California

Peggy Reynolds,1 Julie Von Behren,1 Robert B. Gunier,1 Debbie E. Goldberg,2 Andrew Hertz,3 and Martha E. Harnly1

1California Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Oakland, California, USA; 2Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California, USA; 3Impact Assessment Inc., Oakland, California, USA

Abstract

We analyzed population-based childhood cancer incidence rates throughout California in relation to agricultural pesticide use. During 1988-1994, a total of 7,143 cases of invasive cancer were diagnosed among children under 15 years of age in California. Building on the availability of high-quality population-based cancer incidence information from the California Cancer Registry, population data from the U.S. Census, and uniquely comprehensive agricultural pesticide use information from California's Department of Pesticide Regulation, we used a geographic information system to assign summary population, exposure, and outcome attributes at the block group level. We used Poisson regression to estimate rate ratios (RRs) by pesticide use density adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, and sex for all types of childhood cancer combined and separately for the leukemias and central nervous system cancers. We generally found no association between pesticide use density and childhood cancer incidence rates. The RR for all cancers was 0.95 [95% confidence interval (CI) , 0.80-1.13] for block groups in the 90th percentile and above for use of pesticides classified as probable carcinogens, compared to the block groups with use of < 1 lb/mi2. The RRs were similar for leukemia and central nervous system cancers. Childhood leukemia rates were significantly elevated (RR = 1.48 ; 95% CI, 1.03-2.13) in block groups with the highest use of propargite, although we saw no dose-response trend with increasing exposure categories. Results were unchanged by further adjustment for socioeconomic status and urbanization. Key words: , , , , , , , . Environ Health Perspect 110:319-324(2002) . [Online 14 February 2002]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p319-324reynolds/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to P. Reynolds, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1700, Oakland, CA 94612 USA. Telephone: (510) 622-4500. Fax: (510) 622-4505. E-mail: preynold@dhs.ca.gov

This study was funded by grant R01 CA71745 from the National Cancer Institute.

Received 9 May 2001 ; accepted 7 August 2001.

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