Occupational Exposure in Adult Glioma Patients

摘要

A case/control study was carried out for 326 subjects with glioma to examine possible relationships between petrochemical exposure and brain tumors. Glioma cases were identified from medical records at a hospital and death certificates reporting a brain tumor as the underlying or immediate cause of death. Randomly selected neighborhood comparisons were matched for race, sex and age. No risk was found to be associated with occupational exposures in the petrochemical industry even after trying several composite groupings of job categories. Five of the patients and four members of the comparison group had reported petrochemical industry exposure. Histories of driving or operating gas or diesel powered vehicles were reported for 46 patients and 49 comparisons. Those employed as gas or diesel mechanics or gas station workers included 36 patients and 39 comparisons. Excesses were found among the comparisons for exposures to pesticides, paints and dyes as well as for individuals working with electrical/electronic equipment. Each of these industries has been singled out at one time or another as one in which possible exposures to carcinogens do occur.