CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA IN SOUTH-WEST SARDINIA (ITALY)

Aim and background: Public concern on an increased incidence of childh ood leukemia in SW Sardinia prompted the authors to an epidemiological investigation. Methods: Incident childhood neoplasms observed in the Cagliari province (Sardinia - Italy) in 1974-1989 were registered. Exp ected cases of the most frequent childhood cancers were calculated for each town, based on the sex-and age-specific incidence rates in the p rovince. Results: An excess risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leuk emia (ALL) was observed in Carbonia, a town located in the SW part of the province. The risk was highest in 1983-85, when 7 cases occurred v ersus 0.8 expected (RR = 8.7; 95% C.I. = 4.6, 16.3). No spatial cluste ring of ALL cases was observed within the town. Conclusions: A signifi cantly higher than expected incidence of childhood ALL was observed in the town of Carbonia in 1983-85. In alternative to chance, possible e xposure to environmental pollutants from a near industrial settlement is discussed as the cause of the observed excess, but it is far to be proven. Other hypotheses, including a viral infection in a population with increased susceptibility, as suggested for new urban settlements, cannot be discarded.