Household solvent exposures and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) associated with participation by household members in hobbies or other home projects involving organic solvents.

METHODS

Participants in this case-control study were 640 subjects with ALL and 640 matched controls.

RESULTS

Childhood ALL was associated with frequent (> 4 times/month) exposure to model building (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.7, 5.8) and artwork using solvents (OR = 4.1; 95% CI = 1.1, 15.1). We also found elevated risk (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1, 2.7) among children whose mothers lived in homes painted extensively (> 4 rooms) in the year before the children's birth.

CONCLUSIONS

In this exploratory study, substantial participation by household members in some common household activities that involve organic solvents was associated with elevated risks of childhood ALL.