Leukemia and Exposure to Potential Benzene Sources in Children From the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, 2010-2021: A Geospatial Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer in Mexico, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent subtype. Exposure to high concentrations of benzene has been associated with ALL incidence, particularly in urban areas. This study evaluated the relationship between distance to benzene emission sources and the number of ALL cases in pediatric patients, living in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA), between 2010 and 2021.

METHODS

We conducted an ecological study including ALL cases coming from a pediatric hospital in the MCMA. Potential benzene emission sources were identified using data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Multivariate spatial models estimated the effects of source number and type across buffers on the average number of ALL cases by municipality, sex, and age group.

RESULTS

The number of sources within buffers related to the manufacture of petroleum and coal products, retail trade of fuels, oils, lubricants, printing industries, and chemical industry showed a statistically significant association with increased ALL incidence among children aged 2-17 years living in the MCMA.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a positive association between the tight benzene source distances and the number of cases of ALL, and suggests more study for prevention.