Parental occupations and childhood brain tumors: results of an international case-control study

Objective: To evaluate the role of parental occupations in the etiology of childhood brain tumors (CBT). Methods: Population-based case-control studies were conducted concurrently in seven countries under the coordination of the International Agency for R esearch on Cancer, gathering 1218 cases and 2223 controls. We report here t he findings related to parental occupations during the 5-year period before the child's birth. Risk estimates related to a number of paternal and mate rnal occupations were obtained by unconditional logistic regression adjuste d for age, sex, year of birth, and center, for all types of CBT combined an d for the subgroups of astroglial, primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), and other glial tumors. Results: An increased risk in relation with agricultural work was seen for all CBT combined and for other glial tumors. Increased risks for all tumors and PNET were seen for paternal occupation as an electrician; the same pat tern held for maternal occupation when children under 5 were selected. Pate rnal occupation as a driver or mechanic, and maternal work in an environmen t related to motor-vehicles were associated with an increased risk for all CBT and astroglial tumors. More case mothers compared to control mothers we re employed in the textile industry. Conclusion: Our study reinforces previous findings relative to the role of parental work in agriculture, electricity, or motor-vehicle related occupat ions and maternal work in the textile industry. It does not confirm previou s associations with work environments including aerospace, the chemical ind ustry, or the food industry, or with maternal occupation as a hairdresser, a nurse, or a sewing machinist, and paternal occupation as a welder.