Risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma: a combination of GIS and case-control studies. (Practical Stuff!).* Exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons over extended periods of time may result in hematopoietic hematopoietic /he·ma·to·poi·et·ic/ (-poi-et´ik) 1. pertaining to hematopoiesis. 2. an agent that promotes hematopoiesis. hematopoietic 1. pertaining to or affecting the formation of blood cells. cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia myeloid leukemia n. See myelogenous leukemia. (AML AML - A Manufacturing Language ) and multiple myeloma multiple myeloma A malignant proliferation of abnormal plasma cells that populate the marrow-containing bones of the body. The affected plasma cells produce myeloma protein, a monoclonal antibody that replaces normal antibodies in the blood, thereby increasing susceptibility (MM). * Low-level exposures can come from residential or occupational sources. * The fact that exposures occur at low levels and over long time periods makes it difficult to establish an association between exposure and disease. * Yet these relatively small exposures may be responsible for large risks in the general population. * This study combined case-control study case-control study, n an investigation employing an epidemiologic approach in which previously existing incidents of a medical condition are used in lieu of gathering new information from a randomized population. design with geographic information system geographic information system (GIS) Computerized system that relates and displays data collected from a geographic entity in the form of a map. The ability of GIS to overlay existing data with new information and display it in colour on a computer screen is used primarily to (GIS) mapping. * Employment in a construction or resource extraction occupation was found to be a risk factor for MM. * Employment as a machine operator, laborer, equipment cleaner, or transportation worker was found to be a risk factor for AML. * These findings have not been previously reported in the literature. * A link between AML and MM and occupational exposure to gasoline is, however, well established. * The occupational category of resource extraction used in this study included mining and petroleum drilling/recovery. * Similarly, construction workers, transportation workers, machine operators, laborers, and equipment cleaners may operate gasoline-fueled equipment or handle petroleum-based cleaning solvents. * The occupations that this study found to be at risk, therefore, shared many potential exposure scenarios with individuals directly employed in the distribution of gasoline. * An association also was found between smoking and AML. * A healthy-worker effect may have been exhibited in an observed lack of smokers and drinkers in occupations that require safety or physical-fitness standards. * The healthy-worker effect may account for a lower odds ratio for AML and MM in otherwise potentially exposed occupational groups. * The GIS portion of this study matched areas of high incidence with dump sites. * The effect of residence in the same census tract A census tract, census area, or census district is a particular community defined for the purpose of taking a census. Usually these coincide with the limits of cities, towns or other administrative areas and several tracts commonly exist within a county. as a dump site was not, however, detected in the case-control study. * It is apparent that the GIS study provided greater power to detect the geographic effect than did the case-control study. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion