SOME OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AS RISK-FACTORS FOR MALIGNANT-LYMPHOMAS

Background. Malignant lymphomas (Hodgkin disease [HD] and non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL]) have been subject to several epidemiologic studies and found to be associated with various environmental exposures, especial ly solvents, wood, and phenoxy herbicides. Methods. Various determinan ts for HD and NHL were evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 31 cases of HD, 93 cases of NHL, and 204 referents, all alive. Inform ation on these determinants, mainly occupational exposures, was obtain ed by mailed questionnaires. Results. Crude odds ratios were increased for various occupational exposures, i.e., exposures to solvents, pest icides, metal fumes, welding, and fresh wood, and nursing. Further ana lyses based on logistic regression indicated exposure to phenoxy herbi cides and fresh wood among sawmill workers, lumberjacks, and paper pul p workers to be significant risk factors for HD. Welding, working as a lumberjack, nursing, and ex-smoking were associated with a significan tly increased risk for NHL. Radiographic examinations were negatively associated with HD, as was office work for NHL. Conclusions. The resul ts were mainly in agreement with the findings of earlier studies, but diverging associations also appeared.