METAANALYSIS OF LEUKEMIA AND FARMING

A series of meta-analyses of peer-reviewed studies of leukemia and far ming were performed and examined in the context of what is currently k nown about risk factors for leukemia. The analyses yielded inconsisten t results; however, the preponderance of positive studies and lack of apparent publication bias suggests a weak association between farming and the disease. Reported excesses of all major subtypes of leukemia i n farmers suggest that the association between farming and disease is due to a variety of exposures, which result in an overall excess of le ukemia. Reported associations with specific subtypes of the disease ar e based on low numbers of cases and inconsistent due to the lack of ex posures to strong risk factors universally experienced by farmers. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.