Abstract 5477: Ambient exposure to air pollutants and risk of neuroblastoma

Abstract

Abstract Background: Some reports have linked neuroblastoma to parental occupational exposure to hydrocarbons and other chemicals. Our aim was to assess the association between neuroblastoma and exposure in pregnancy and early life to criteria air pollutants (CO, O3, PM10, PM2.5, and NOx) and to certain air toxics which are established or suspected carcinogens (benzene, 1,3 butadiene, PAHs, xylenes, carbon tetrachloride, and others). Of the criteria air pollutants, CO and NOx arise primarily from motor vehicle exhaust and thus best represent traffic-related pollution, while O3 and PM arise from a variety of sources and should be considered as markers of regionally distributed background air pollution. Methods: The Air Pollution and Childhood Cancers study ascertained all cancers diagnosed 1988-2007 in the California Cancer Registry among children less than 6 years of age; we were able to match 89% to a California birth certificate. Controls were frequency-matched by year of birth and selected at random from California birthrolls. The final analysis included 1073 neuroblastoma cases and 209,700 controls. Home addresses, as listed on birth certificates, were geocoded and linked to the nearest California Air Resources Board air pollution monitor. For those living within 5 miles of an air pollution monitor, average measurements of criteria air pollutants and air toxics were determined for each trimester of pregnancy and for the first year of life. Multivariate regression models were used to assess the relation between air pollutants and neuroblastoma, with adjustment for maternal race, socioeconomic status, and birth year. Odds ratios compare children in the highest quartile of exposure to those in the lowest exposure group. Results: Exposure to ozone in the 1st (OR =1.27, 95% CI 1.01, 1.60) and 2nd (OR=1.30, 95% CI 1.02, 1.64) trimesters was associated with an increased risk of neuroblastoma (n cases=565 within 5 miles of a monitor). Neuroblastoma was also associated with exposure to carbon tetrachloride in the first trimester (OR=2.62, 95% CI 1.06, 6.46), although this result was based upon 60 cases living within 5 miles of an air toxics monitor. We found no evidence of associations between neuroblastoma and other criteria air pollutants nor other air toxics, including no evidence of associations with traffic-related pollution. Conclusions: This is the first study to suggest a relation between neuroblastoma and ambient levels of air pollution. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5477. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5477