Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Animal-related occupations and the risk of leukemia, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Canada

  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: There is some evidence to suggest that workers in animal-related occupations are at increased risk of developing lymphohematopoietic cancers. This study aimed to examine the risk of leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and multiple myeloma associated with occupational exposure to animals. Methods: We used data from a multi-site, population-based case–control study using mailed questionnaires which had taken place in eight of ten Canadian provinces, during 1994–1998. There were 1023 leukemia cases, 1577 NHL cases, and 324 multiple myeloma cases (all histologically confirmed) and 4688 population-based controls. Animal-related occupations were identified from a lifetime occupational history. Subjects in animal-related jobs were compared with others using logistic regression for the risk of leukemia, NHL, and multiple myeloma. Results: Compared to subjects without occupational exposure to animals, occupational exposure to beef cattle increased the risks of leukemia (odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–3.3) and NHL (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.9). No other animal exposure was consistently associated with risk of lymphohematopoietic cancer. An unexpected protective association was observed between work as a fisherman and leukemia (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.8) and NHL (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.9). Conclusions: This population-based case–control study found that those individuals working in occupations associated with beef cattle are at increased risk for developing leukemia and lymphoma while those working in occupations requiring the handling of fish are at decreased risk of leukemia and lymphoma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pearce N, Reif JS (1990) Epidemiologic studies of cancer in agricultural workers. Am J Indust Med 18: 133-148.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fritschi L (2000) Cancer in veterinarians. Occ Environ Med 57: 289-297.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Metayer C, Johnson ES, Rice JC (1998) Nested case-control study of tumors of the hemopoietic and lymphatic systems among workers in the meat industry. Am J Epidemiol 147: 727-738.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Johnson KC, Mao Y, Argo J, et al. (1998) The National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System: a case-control approach to environment-related cancer surveillance in Canada. Environmetrics 9: 495-504.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mao Y, Hu J, Ugnat A-M, White K (2000) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and occupational exposure to chemicals in Canada. Ann Oncol 11: 69-73.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Milham S (1971) Leukemia and multiple myeloma in farmers. Am J Epidemiol 94: 307-310.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Blair A, Thomas TL (1979) Leukemia among Nebraska farmers: a death certificate study. Am J Epidemiol 110: 264-273.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cantor K, Blair A (1984) Farming and mortality from multiple myeloma: a case-control study with the use of death certificates. J Natl Cancer Inst 72: 251-255.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Clavel J, Mandereau L, Cordier S, et al. (1995) Hairy cell leukemia, occupation, and smoking. Br J Haematol 91: 154-161.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Blair A, White DW (1981) Death certificate study of leukemia among farmers from Wisconsin. J Natl Cancer Inst 66: 1027-1030.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Blair A, Linos A, Stewart PA, et al. (1993) Evaluation of risks for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by occupation and industry exposures froma case-control study. Am J Indust Med 23: 301-312.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Cano MI, Pollan M (2001) Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and occupation in Sweden. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 74: 443-449.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Pearce N, Sheppard R, Howard J, Fraser J, Lilley B (1986) Leukemia among New Zealand agricultural workers: a cancer registry-based study. Am J Epidemiol 124: 402-409.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Pearce N, Smith A, Howard J, Sheppard R, Giles H, Teague C (1986) Case-control study of multiple myeloma and farming. Br J Cancer 54: 493-500.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Minson A, Neil J, McCrae M, eds. (1994) Viruses and Cancer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Donham K, VanDer Maaten MJ, Miller JM, Druse BC, Rubino MJ (1977) Seroepidemiologic studies on the possible relationships of human and bovine leukemia. J Natl Cancer Inst 59: 851-853.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Johnson E (1994) Poultry oncogenic retroviruses and humans. Cancer Detect Prev 18: 9-30.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chiu BC, Cerhan JR, Folsom AR, et al. (1996) Diet and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in older women. JAMA 275: 1315-1321.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tavani A, Pregnolato A, Negri E, et al. (1997) Diet and risk of lymphoid neoplasms and soft tissue sarcomas. Nutr Cancer 27: 256-260.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ward MH, Zahm SH, Weisenburger DD, et al. (1994) Dietary factors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nebraska (United States). Cancer Causes Control 5: 422-432.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Cantor KP, Blair A, Everett G, et al. (1992) Pesticides and other agricultural risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among men in Iowa and Minnesota. Cancer Res 52: 2447-2455.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Brown LM, Blair A, Gibson R, et al. (1990) Pesticide exposures and other agricultural risk factors for leukemia among men in Iowa and Minnesota Cancer Res 50: 6585-6591.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Blair A, Cantor K, Hoar-Zahm S (1998) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and agricultural use of the insecticide lindane. Am J Indust Med 33: 82-87.

    Google Scholar 

  24. McDuffie HH, Pahwa P, McLaughlin JR, et al. (2001) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and specific pesticide exposures in men: cross-Canada study of pesticides and health. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 10: 1155-1163.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Blair A, Thomas TL (1979) Leukemia among Nebraska farmers: a death certificate study. Am J Epidemiol 110: 264-273.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Saftlas A, Blair A, Cantor KP, Hanrahan L, Anderson HA (1987) Cancer and other causes of death among Wisconsin farmers. Am J Indust Med 11: 119-129.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Johnson E, Fischman HR, Matanoski GM, Diamond E (1986) Occurrence of cancer in women in the meat industry. Br J Indust Med 43: 597-604.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Guberan E, Usel M, Raymond L, Fioretta G (1993) Mortality and incidence of cancer among a cohort of self employed butchers from Geneva and their wives. Br J Indust Med 50: 1008-1016.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Coggan D, Pannett B, Pippard E, Winter P (1989) Lung cancer in the meat industry. Br J Indust Med 46: 188-191.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Franceschi S, Serraino D, La Vecchia C, Bidote E, Tirelli U (1991) Occupation and risk of Hodgkin's disease in North-East Italy. Int J Cancer 48: 831-835.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Pearce N, Sheppard RA, Smith AH, Teague CA. (1987) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and farming: an expanded case-control study. Int J Cancer 39: 155-161.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Tatham L, Tolbert P, Kjeldsberg C (1997) Occupational risk factors for subgroups of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Epidemiology 8: 551-558.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Loomis D, Savitz DA (1991) Occupation and leukemia mortality among men in 16 states: 1985-1987. Am J Indust Med 19: 509-521.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Boffetta P, Gridley G, Gustavsson P, et al. (2000) Employment as butcher and cancer risk in a record-linkage study fromSweden. Cancer Causes Control 11: 627-633.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Morton W, Marjanovic D (1984) Leukemia incidence by occupation in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Am J Indust Med 6: 185-205.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Bethwaite P, McLean D, Kennedy J, Pearce N (2001) Adult-onset leukemia and employment in the meat industry: a New Zealand case-control study. Cancer Causes Control 12: 635-643.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Rafnsson V, Gunnarsdottir H (1995) Cancer incidence among seamen in Iceland. Am J Ind Med 27: 187-193.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Hagmar L, Linden K, Nilssson A, et al. (1992) Cancer incidence and mortality among Swedish Baltic Sea fishermen. Scand J Work Environ Health 18: 217-224.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Svensson BG, Nilsson A, Jonsson E, Schutz A, Akesson B, Hagmar L (1995) Fish consumption and exposure to persistent organochlorine compounds, mercury, selenium and methylamines among Swedish fishermen. Scand J Work Environ Health 21: 96-105.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Svensson BG, Mikoczy Z, Stromberg U, Hagmar L (1995) Mortality and cancer incidence among Swedish fishermen with a high dietary intake of persistent organochlorine compounds. Scand J Work Environ Health 21: 106-115.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Schwartz GG (1997) Multiple myeloma: clusters, clues and dioxins. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 6: 49-56.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Hellou J, Warren WG, Payne JF (1993) Organochlorines including polychlorinated biphenyls in muscle, liver, and ovaries of cod, Gadus morhua. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 25: 497-505.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Fernandez E, Chatenoud L, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Franceschi S (1999) Fish consumption and cancer risk. Am J Clin Nutr 70: 85-90.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Pobel D, Viel J-F (1997) Case-control study of leukemia among young people near La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant: the environmental hypothesis revisited. BMJ 314: 101-106. 570 L. Fritschi et al.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Zhang S, Hunter DJ, Rosner BA, et al. (1999) Dietary fat and protein in relation to risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among women. J Natl Cancer Inst 91: 1751-1758.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Brown LM, Gridley G, Pottern LM, et al. (2001) Diet and nutrition as risk factors for multiple myeloma among blacks and whites in the United States. Cancer Causes Control 12: 117-125.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Jenski LJ, Zerouga M, Stillwell W (1995) Omega-3 fatty acidcontaining liposomes in cancer therapy. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 210: 227-233.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ogilvie GK, Fettman MJ, Mallinckrodt CH, et al. (2000) Effect of fish oil, arginine, and doxorubicin chemotherapy on remission and survival time for dogs with lymphoma: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Cancer 88: 1916-1928.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Lin Fritschi

  2. Cancer Bureau, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada, Canada

    Kenneth C. Johnson & Rick Fry

  3. Manitoba Department of Health, Cancercare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

    Erich V. Kliewer

Authors
  1. Lin Fritschi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenneth C. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Erich V. Kliewer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rick Fry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fritschi, L., Johnson, K.C., Kliewer, E.V. et al. Animal-related occupations and the risk of leukemia, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Canada. Cancer Causes Control 13, 563–571 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016331128897

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016331128897

Search

Navigation