Epidemiological study (observational study)

Case-control study of paternal occupation and childhood leukaemia in Great Britain, 1962-2006. epidem.

By: Keegan TJ, Bunch KJ, Vincent TJ, King JC, O'Neill KA, Kendall GM, MacCarthy A, Fear NT, Murphy MF

Published in: Br J Cancer 2012; 107 (9): 1652-1659

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study was conducted in the Great Britain to investigate the possible association between paternal occupation and the risk for childhood leukemia.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

childhood leukemia: total childhood leukemia, lymphoid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, other types of leukemia

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field
- also other exposures without EMF
- occupational

Assessment

list: paternal occupation stated on birth certificate was categorized according to the 1980 Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Classification of Occupations

Population

Group:
- children
- children in utero
Age: 0–14 years
Observation period: 1962 - 2006
Study location: Great Britain

Case group

Characteristics: childhood leukemia
Data source: National Registry of Childhood Tumours, Office for National Statistics, General Registry for Scotland
Exclusion criteria: children born overseas, adopted children, no birth registration found

Control group

Matching:
- sex
- age
- birth registration district
- case:control = 1:1

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	17,793	16,764
Evaluable	16,764	16,764

Statistical analysis method:

conditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

social class

)

Conclusion (acc. to author)

No statistically significant increased risks for total childhood leukemia, lymphatic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia were observed in association with paternal exposure to electromagnetic fields. However, the risk of other types of leukemia was significantly increased by paternal exposure to electromagnetic fields (adjusted OR 1.60; CI 1.11-2.33 based on 119 case-control pairs).
The authors concluded that the results show some support for a positive association between childhood leukemia risk and paternal occupation involving social contact. Additionally, the study provided additional evidence for higher occupational social class being a risk factor for childhood leukemia.

Study funded by

Department of Health, UK
Scottish Executive/Scottish Ministers, UK
CHILDREN with CANCER UK

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