Appendix D - Dossier (PDF) - Tera

date: 20–JUL–2005
5. Toxicity Substance ID: 71–43–2
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Species: human Sex:
Remark: A letter to the Editor, criticizing a meta–analysis of
Non–Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) in petroleum workers published
by Wong and Raabe in an earlier volume (JOEM (2000) 42:
554–568).
The letter suggests that the meta analysis lacked
sensitivity, that the healthy worker effect masked the true
incidence of NHL, and the characterization of benzene
exposure was inadequate.
Wong and Raabe refute each of these claims in their reply.
Source: A.K. Mallett Surrey
12–SEP–2001 (426)
Species: human Sex:
Method: Subjects
The cancer cases in this study were children born after 31
December 1959 and identified from the Danish Cancer
Registery as having a diagnosis of leukemia, tumor of the
CNS or malignant lymphoma when under the age of 15 yr during
the period January 1968 – December 1991. A total of 1,989
children were included in the study. 5,506 control children
were selected at random from the entire Danish population.
Appendix D: Benzene SIDS Dossier
Residential history
Familal background, including the residential history of
each family, was obtained from central government records.
Exposure assessment
The average concentrations of benzene and nitrogen dioxide
(used as markers of traffic–related polution) at the
families addresses were assessed using the Operational
Street Pollution Model. Historic information on urban
layout, traffic patterns and meterologic data were obtained
from central records. The geographic distribution and
temporal variation in background air pollution levels were
estimated from measurements made during 1994–1995 at four
sites in different parts of Denmark, and from information on
changes in air pollution since 1960.
Statistics
The risk of childhood cancer was analysed according to
traffic density and air pollution level at the residence
during pregnancy and during childhood. Cumulated exposure
was calculated from the date of birth until 12 months before
the date of diagnosis, with an additonal requirement of at
least 6 months of follow–up exposure (ie cancers diagnosed
before age 18 months were excluded).
The relative risk for childhood cancer were estimated by
conditional logistic regression analysis. Exposure and
traffic density estimates were log transformed to avoid
– 546/957 –