those younger than 50 in the pesticide-exposed group, but the rate of MGUS in those older than 50 was 6.8 percent. That was 1.9 times higher than among the men in the general population group.
The researchers also identified risk levels associated with specific types of pesticides. They found the risk of MGUS was 5.6 times higher for those who used an insecticide called dieldrin; 3.9 times higher for those who used the fumigant mixture carbon-tetrachloride/carbon disulfide, and 2.4 times higher for those who used a fungicide called chlorothalonil.
“Previously, inconclusive evidence has linked agricultural work to an increased multiple myeloma risk. Our study is the first to show an association between pesticide exposure and an excess prevalence of MGUS,” study author Dr. Ola Landgren, of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, said in a news release.
“This finding is particularly important given that we recently found in a large prospective cancer screening study that virtually all multiple myeloma patients experienced a MGUS state prior to developing myeloma,” Landgren added.
For more information on multiple myeloma and prevention, visit our Health Conditions page on BlackDoctor.org.
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SOURCE: American Society of Hematology, news release, June 12, 2009
