INCREASED RISK OF ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA (AML) AND CHRONIC MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA (CML) IN A COUNTY OF HESSE, GERMANY

The incidence of acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia has been compa red for the two neighbouring regions of Marburg and Giessen in Hesse ( Germany). The investigation was based on the incident cases of the yea rs 1983-1989 which have been diagnosed in the hematological department s of the universities of the two regions. The epidemiological evaluati on of the data has been carried out in terms of a historical follow-up study, and shows an increased relative risk for the region around Mar burg with a particular elevation for one community within this region. Potential determinants are discussed and focus on trinitrotoluene (TN T) and decomposition products which are known to contaminate the soil of this community, in some places severely, due to insufficient remova l of remnants of the TNT production in large underground plants during World War II.