Brain tumours and exposure to pesticides: a case–control study in southwestern France

Abstract

Background: Brain tumours are often disabling and rapidly lethal; their aetiology is largely unknown. Among potential risk factors, pesticides are suspected. Objective: To examine the relationship between exposure to pesticides and brain tumours in adults in a population-based case-control study in southwestern France. Methods: Between May 1999 and April 2001, 221 incident cases of brain tumours and 442 individually matched controls selected from the general population were enrolled. Histories of occupational and environmental exposures, medical and lifestyle information were collected. A cumulative index of occupational exposure to pesticides was created, based on expert review of lifelong jobs and tasks. Separate analyses were performed for gliomas and meningiomas. Results: A non-statistically significant increase in risk was found for brain tumours when all types of occupational exposure to pesticides were considered (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.91) and slightly higher but still non-statistically significant when gliomas were considered separately (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.66). In the highest quartile of the cumulative index, a significant association was found for brain tumours (OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.10 to 4.23) and for gliomas (OR = 3.21, 95% CI 1.13 to 9.11), but not for meningiomas. A significant increase in risk was also seen for the treatment of home plants (OR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.16 to 4.30) owing to environmental exposure to pesticides. Conclusions: These data suggest that a high level of occupational exposure to pesticides might be associated with an excess risk of brain tumours, and especially of gliomas.

Central nervous system tumors: a histopathological study

“…A possible explanation for this discrepancy may lie in the aging populations in developed countries. 9 The mean age of patients with neuroepithelial tumors in our study was 39.38 years, compared to that measured in Korea, 43.5 years. 10 The mean age of patients diagnosed with meningiomas in one European report was 57.6 years, in an American report: 59 years and in an Asian report : 58.1 years.…”

“…12 Provost et al, suggested the possible explanation for a higher frequency of gliomas in males may be due to specific occupational exposures. 9 Possible reasons for the observed gender variations may arise as a result of possible variabilties in the susceptibility of X and Y chromosomes to tumorigenic stimuli, while others postulate a protective effect of female sex hormones against brain tumors. 19 A review of data obtained from the SEER program suggested a higher incidence of meningiomas in females…”

“…10 The mean age of patients diagnosed with meningiomas in one European report was 57.6 years, in an American report: 59 years and in an Asian report : 58.1 years. [9][10][11] By comparison, the mean age of patients with meningiomas at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital was 45.65 years.…”

Assessing Occupational Exposure to Chemicals in an International Epidemiological Study of Brain Tumours

“…A link between exposure to pesticides and increased risk of brain tumours has been hypothesized (Khuder et al, 1998;Lee et al, 2005;Provost et al, 2007). Pesticide exposure was not included in the INTEROCC study as FINJEM only provides exposure estimates for fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides rather than (categories of) active ingredients.…”

Occupational and residential exposure to electromagnetic fields and risk of brain tumors in adults: A case–control study in Gironde, France

“…We briefly summarize here the methods decribed in a previous paper. 13 Eligible cases were all subjects aged 16 years and over, newly diagnosed with a brain tumor during the period from May 1, 1999 to April 30, 2001 and living in Gironde when diagnosed. Topography codes for primary brain tumors following the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology third edition (ICD-O-3) were included in the study: C70.0-C70.9 (meninges), C71.0-C71.9 (brain) and C72.2-C72.9 (cranial nerves and other parts of the CNS).…”