Epidemiological study of socioeconomic factors and clinical findings in Hodgkin's disease, and reanalysis of previous data regarding chemical exposure

Abstract

Summary An association between malignant lymphoma (both Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and exposure to organic solvents, phenoxy acids, or chlorophenols was previously reported. A reanalysis of this investigation regarding the cases with HD and exposure to various chemicals was performed and resulted in comparable findings to the whole group of malignant lymphoma. There was an overrepresentation of cases with primary involvement of the gastrointestinal tract which was associated with exposure to these chemicals. The influence of previous diseases and socioeconomic factors was analysed through a supplementary questionnaire to the cases with HD and their matched controls. No differences were found in cases and controls for such variables except for tonsillectomy which was overrepresented among the cases as well as a history of previous duodenal or ventricular ulceration. These findings were, however, insignificant.

Geographical variation in lymphoma incidence

“…The increasing trend in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be due to the widespread introduction of herbicides since the 1950s and a twenty to thirty year average latent period. There was no association between herbicides and the development of Hodgkin's disease in the Kansas study (Hoar et al, 1986), which appears consistent with the Yorkshire and Minnesota data, but contrasts with findings from Sweden (Hardell et al, 1981;Hardell & Bengtsson, 1983).…”

“…lymphoma in persons frequently exposed to herbicides (Hardell et al, 1981;Hardell & Bengtsson, 1983;Hoar et al, 1986). The increasing trend in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be due to the widespread introduction of herbicides since the 1950s and a twenty to thirty year average latent period.…”

Some aspects of the etiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

“…Subsequent studies on malignant lymphoma including both Hodgkin's disease and NHL showed increased odds ratios for exposure to phenoxyacetic acids, chlorophenols, or organic solvents including benzene (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8).…”

Agent Orange and Cancer: An Overview for Clinicians

“…In particular, the Ranch Hand study did not show an increase in these tumors, 62 nor did a study of 33,833 Army and Marine Vietnam veterans, 19 the Selected Cancers Study, 16 a case-control study of 283 Vietnam-era veterans with Hodgkin disease, 68 or studies of veterans in Michigan, 29 New York, 26 or other states. However, Hodgkin disease was linked to phenoxy herbicide and chlorophenol exposure in one case-control study in Sweden, 64,69 and another yielded similar results, although without statistical significance. 65 Many studies of farmers and agricultural workers show an increase in Hodgkin disease, which may relate to herbicide exposure.…”