Non-occupational exposure to pesticides and childhood acute leukaemia

The present study, which included 280 cases of acute leukaemia and 288 controls, investigated the relationship between childhood acute leukaemia (AL) and non-occupational exposure to pesticide during pregnancy and childhood. Acute leukaemia was associated to home insecticide use during pregnancy and during childhood (OR=1.8 [1.2-2.8], OR=1.7 [1.1-2.4], respectively) and garden insecticide use during childhood (OR=2.1 [1.1-4.0]). The association was more pronounced when garden insecticide was used during both pregnancy and childhood (OR=2.9 [1.1-7.3]). Lice infestation of the index child was also associated with AL with an OR of 1.6 (Confidence Interval (CI)=1.0-2.6). Shampoos against lice infestation were associated with childhood leukaemia for pyrethrine shampoos (OR=2.1 [1.2-3.7]) while other shampoos where not associated (OR=1.1 [0.5-2.8]).