Contacts with animals and humans as risk factors for adult brain tumours. An international case–control study

Abstract

While numerous studies have addressed the possible role of farming and related exposures as risk factors for brain tumours in adults, few of them have examined the potential effect of exposure to farm animals or pets. In an international multicentre case–control study, we investigated whether residence on a farm, contact with animals, or working in occupations with a high degree of potential contact with animals or humans were associated with brain tumours. Using a common questionnaire, 1177 cases of glioma, 330 with meningioma and 2478 controls from eight centres were interviewed about the exposures and, in particular, about their contacts with nine species of animals: dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, dogs and cats. Living or working on a farm was not a risk factor, for either glioma or meningioma. Except in some centres, there was no relationship between having contacts with farm animals or pets and the risk of brain tumour, for either type of tumour or either sex. In relation to seven industrial groups involving frequent human and/or animal contacts, no association was apparent for either glioma or meningioma. In relation to 25 occupational groups with potential frequent contact with humans and/or animals, for glioma there was a reduced risk for biological technicians (Odds Ratio (OR)/=0, P=0.01), and general farm workers (OR=0.66, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.5–0.9). For meningioma, there was an increased risk for cooks (OR=2.0; CI: 1.2–3.4). With some exceptions, these results indicate no association between either the type of brain tumour and contacts with animals, or with occupations that include a high level of contact with animals or a high level of contact with humans.