Residential pesticide exposure and neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common neoplasm in children under 1 year of age. We examined the relation between residential exposure to pesticides and neu roblastoma, using data from a case-control study of risk factors for neurob lastoma. Incident cases of neuroblastoma (N = 538) were identified through the Pediatric Oncology Group and the Children's Cancer Group. One age-match ed control was identified for each case by random digit dialing. Telephone interviews with each parent collected information on residential exposure t o pesticides, Pesticide use in both the home and garden were modestly assoc iated with neuroblastoma [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6 (95% confidence interval [9 5% CI] = 1.0-2.3, and OR = 1.7 (95% CI = 0.9-2.1), respectively]. Compared with infants [OR = 1.0 (95% CI = 0.6-2.0)], stronger associations were foun d for garden pesticides in children diagnosed after 1 year of age [OR = 2.2 (95% CI = 1.3-3.6)], which suggests that pesticides may act through a mech anism more common for neuroblastomas in older children. There was no eviden ce of differential pesticide effects in subgroups of neuroblastoma defined by MYCN oncogene amplification or tumor stage.