Neuroblastoma and parental occupation

Objectives: We evaluated parental occupation and the risk of neuroblastoma using data from a large case-control study conducted by the Children's Canc er Group and the Pediatric Oncology Group. Methods: We compared the distribution of 73 paternal and 57 maternal occupa tional groups among 504 newly diagnosed cases of neuroblastoma and individu ally matched controls obtained by telephone random digit dialing in the Uni ted States and Canada. Results: An increased risk of neuroblastoma was found for fathers employed as broadcast, telephone and dispatch operators (odds ratio [OR] = 6.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7-50.9), electrical power installers and power plant operators (OR = 2.7; CI = 0.9-8.1), landscapers and groundskeepers ( OR = 2.3; CI = 1.0-5.2), and painters (OR=2.1; CI = 0.9-4.8). Elevated odds ratios were found for mothers employed as farmers and farm workers (OR = 2 .2; CI = 0.6-8.8), florists and garden store workers (OR = 2.4; CI = 0.6-9. 9), hairdressers and barbers (OR = 2.8; CI = 1.2-6.3), electric power insta llers and power plant operators, and sailors, fishers, and railroad workers . No increase in risk was found for other paternal occupations previously a ssociated, including electricians, electrical equipment assemblers and repa irers (OR = 1.1; CI = 0.6-2.0), or welders (OR = 0.5; CI = 0.1-1.6). Conclusion: The study reinforced some prior evidence of increased risks in electrical, farming and gardening, and painting occupations, but failed to confirm other previously reported associations. Further analyses of exposur e to electromagnetic fields, metals, solvents, and pesticides are currently under way.