Maternal exposure to pesticides, paternal occupation in the Army/Police force and CYP2D6*4 polymorphism in the etiology of Childhood Acute Leukaemia.

Epidemiologic studies have suggested that parental occupations, pesticide use, environmental factors and genetic polymorphism are involved in the aetiology of Childhood Acute Leukaemia (CAL). 116 cases of CAL and 162 controls were recruited and submitted to a blood drawing to assess the presence of genetic polymorphisms. Parental occupations, pesticides exposure, and other potential determinants were investigated. CAL increased risk was associated with prenatal maternal use of insecticides/rodenticides [OR (odds ratio) = 1.87; 95% CI (confidence intervals) 1.04- 3.33], with subjects living < 100 meters from pesticide treated fields (OR = 3.21; 95% CI 1.37-7.53) and with a paternal occupation as traffic warden /policeman (OR = 4.02; 95% CI 1.63-9.87). Associations were found between CAL and genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6*4 for homozygous alleles (mt/mt: OR = 6.39; 95% CI 1.17-34.66). In conclusion, although the small sample size, maternal prenatal exposure to pesticides, paternal occupation as a traffic warden /police officer and CYP2D6*4 polymorphism could play a role in the aetiology of CAL.