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Lymphoma risk in livestock farmers: results of the Epilymph study.
Abstract: We explored the risk of lymphoma and its most prevalent subtypes associated with occupational contact with livestock, and whether risk was modified by age at first contact, in 2,348 incident lymphoma cases and 2,462 controls who participated in the EPILYMPH case-control study. A detailed occupational history was collected in cases and controls, including working in a livestock farm, species of livestock, its approximate number and circumstances of contact. For each disease outcome, and each type of livestock, odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender, education and center. Lymphoma risk (all subtypes combined) was not increased amongst those exposed to contact with any livestock (OR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.8-1.2). Overall, we did not observe an association between occupational contact with livestock and risk of lymphoma (all types) and B-cell lymphoma. The risk of diffuse large B cell lyphoma (DLBCL) was significantly lower amongst subjects who started occupational contact with any species of livestock before or at age 12 (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-0.9), but not at older ages. A significant heterogeneity in risk of B cell lymphoma by age at first contact was detected for contact with cattle, poultry and swine. Early occupational contact with livestock might be associated with a decrease in risk of B cell lymphoma.
Copyright © 2012 UICC.
Publication Date: 2012-11-02 PubMed ID: 23065666DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27908Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research aimed to explore the relationship between occupational contact with livestock and the risk of developing lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Findings indicated no significant increase in lymphoma risk among those who worked with livestock, however, early contact (before or at age 12) with any species of livestock was associated with a decreased risk of a certain subtype of lymphoma, diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Study Design
- The study encompassed 2,348 lymphoma cases and 2,462 controls who participated in the EPILYMPH case-control study. This type of study is characteristically retrospective and is largely deployed to assess potential risk factors of diseases.
- Participants provided a comprehensive occupational history. Data relevant to this study included information related to working on a livestock farm, such as the type of livestock with which they worked, the approximate number of livestock, and the circumstances under which they interacted.
Methodology
- To analyze the data, odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for each disease outcome and each type of livestock. OR is a measure of the association between an exposure (working with livestock) and an outcome (developing lymphoma).
- The calculations were adjusted for confounding variables: age, gender, education, and center. By doing this, the researchers attempted to remove the potential effects of these variables on the outcome.
Findings
- The researchers found no increased risk of lymphoma (all subtypes combined) among those who had occupational contact with livestock; the OR was 1.0, implying no difference in risk between those exposed to livestock and those not exposed.
- Overall, statistical analysis revealed no relationship between working with livestock and developing lymphoma.
- Significantly, those who began occupational contact with any livestock species before or at age 12 had a lower risk of DLBCL. This observation was not applicable to individuals who started occupational contact with livestock at an older age, suggesting that early contact could possibly have a protective effect.
- There was a notable difference in the risk of B-cell lymphoma based on the age of first contact with various species of livestock, including cattle, poultry, and swine.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that early occupational contact with livestock could be associated with a reduced risk of B-cell lymphoma.
Cite This Article
APA
Cocco P, Satta G, D'Andrea I, Nonne T, Udas G, Zucca M, Mannetje A', Becker N, Sanjosé Sd, Foretova L, Staines A, Maynadié M, Nieters A, Brennan P, Ennas MG, Boffetta P.
(2012).
Lymphoma risk in livestock farmers: results of the Epilymph study.
Int J Cancer, 132(11), 2613-2618.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.27908 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Occupational Health Section, University of Cagliari, Italy. coccop@medicina.unica.it
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Cattle
- Child
- Europe / epidemiology
- Follow-Up Studies
- Horses
- Humans
- Livestock
- Lymphoma, B-Cell / epidemiology
- Lymphoma, B-Cell / etiology
- Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
- Prognosis
- Risk Factors
- Sheep
- Swine
- Young Adult
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Baissa OT, Abdela F, Tadesse F, Damie A, Sori M, Hailu W, Bizuneh S, Abebe B, Adamu B, Amir G, Paltiel O. Occupational, Lifestyle, and Medical Risk Factors for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case-Control Study in Ethiopia. Cancers (Basel) 2025 Nov 24;17(23).
- Broccia G, Carter J, Ozsin-Ozler C, De Matteis S, Cocco P. Incidence and Bayesian Mapping of Myeloid Hematologic Malignancies in Sardinia, Italy. Cancer Control 2023 Jan-Dec;30:10732748231202906.
- El-Zaemey S, Schinasi LH, Ferro G, Tual S, Lebailly P, Baldi I, Nordby KC, Kjærheim K, Schüz J, Monnereau A, Brouwer M, Koutros S, Hofmann J, Kristensen P, Kromhout H, Leon ME, Beane Freeman LE. Animal farming and the risk of lymphohaematopoietic cancers: a meta-analysis of three cohort studies within the AGRICOH consortium. Occup Environ Med 2019 Nov;76(11):827-837.
- Depczynski J, Dobbins T, Armstrong B, Lower T. Comparison of cancer incidence in Australian farm residents 45 years and over, compared to rural non-farm and urban residents - a data linkage study. BMC Cancer 2018 Jan 5;18(1):33.
- Slager SL, Benavente Y, Blair A, Vermeulen R, Cerhan JR, Costantini AS, Monnereau A, Nieters A, Clavel J, Call TG, Maynadié M, Lan Q, Clarke CA, Lightfoot T, Norman AD, Sampson JN, Casabonne D, Cocco P, de Sanjosé S. Medical history, lifestyle, family history, and occupational risk factors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma: the InterLymph Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes Project. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2014 Aug;2014(48):41-51.
- Schinasi L, Leon ME. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and occupational exposure to agricultural pesticide chemical groups and active ingredients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2014 Apr 23;11(4):4449-527.
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