Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Pesticide Exposure in Turkey

Abstract

Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a solid tumour of lymphocytes, important elements in the immune system. According to 2006 data, in Turkey the incidence was 6.5 per 100,000 in males, and 4.4 in females. The relationship between the use of pesticides and development of NHL has been extensively investigated in many studies, and it has been demonstrated that the risk of NHL is increased by exposure to such compounds. Antalya is a region of intensive agricultural activity. In this study, the relationship between the incidence of lymphoma in Antalya and the amount of pesticides employed was investigated. Materials and Methods: The study used data from 1995 to 2010 on the patients from the databank of TR Ministry of Health, Antalya Provincial Health Directorate, Cancer Registration Center and the patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with NHL during these years. Results: The relationship between the amount of pesticide used and the incidence was studied with the Spearman correlation analysis and the p value was found as 0.05. The correlation coefficient was 0.497. An increase in the NHL incidence over the years was identified, with a 2.42-fold increment found from 1995 to 2005 and a 2.77 fold elevation from 1995 to 2010. The use of pesticides increased 1.89 fold over the same period. Conclusions: Our study investigated the relationship of the pesticides used with NHL patients diagnosed during the same year. Since the time elapsing after exposure to pesticides until the development of cancer is not clear, no comparison can be made at present. We believe that the increase in use of pesticides since 1995 may be associated with the increase in the incidence of NHLand therefore that further studies on the issue including measurements of serum pesticide levels, are required.,

Overview of Cancer Registration Research in the Asian Pacific from 2008-2013

“…In the Antalya registry, an increase in the NHL incidence over the years was identified, with a 2.42-fold increment found from 1995 to 2005 and a 2.77 fold elevation from 1995 to 2010, use of pesticides increasing1.89 fold over the same period (Yildirim et al, 2013). In Gharbia Registry, we observed NHL incidence pattern similar to that observed for hepatocellular carcinoma because of the possible link to hepatitis C virus for both cancers.…”

Type Distribution of Lymphomas in Lebanon: Five-Year Single Institution Experience

“…Patients diagnosed of NHL have been the subject of many more epidemiologic studies. Risk factors has been detected such as a higher consumption of carbohydrate in Oman (Ali et al, 2013) and an increase in pesticides usage in Turkey (Yildirim et al, 2013). The latter has been previously estimated as a 3-fold excess risk in India, among other risk factors: cigarette smoking, consumption of mutton and consumption of milk (Balasubramaniam et al, 2013).…”

Esophageal Cancer, Gastric Cancer and the use of Pesticides in the Southwestern of Turkey

“…Insecticides are frequently used as one of pesticide subgroups. Insecticides can have chemical origins like organic phosphor or organochlorine carbamate, or biological origins such as pyrethrins and pyrethroides (Yildirim et al, 2013).…”