OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC-HYDROCARBONS AND RISK OF ASTROCYTIC BRAIN CANCER

Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) were evaluated as potential risk factors for astrocytic brain tumors. Job-exposure matrices for si x individual CAHs and for the general class of organic solvents were a pplied to data from a case-control study of brain cancer among white m en. The matrices indicated whether the CAHs were likely to have been u sed in each industry and occupation by decade (1920-1980), and provide d estimates of probability and intensity of exposure for ''exposed'' i ndustries and occupations. Cumulative exposure indices were calculated for each subject. Associations of astrocytic brain cancer were observ ed with likely exposure to carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, t etrachloroethylene, and trichloroethylene, but were strongest for meth ylene chloride. Exposure to chloroform or methyl chloroform showed lit tle indication of an association with brain cancer. Risk of astrocytic brain tumors increased with probability and average intensity of expo sure, and with duration of employment in jobs considered exposed to me thylene chloride, but not with a cumulative exposure score. These tren ds could not be explained by exposures to the other solvents. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.