Herbicide use in farming and other jobs in relation to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) risk.

Objectives: Given mixed evidence for carcinogenicity of current-use herbicides, we studied the relationship between occupational herbicide use and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in a large, pooled study.

Methods: We pooled data from 10 case-control studies participating in the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium, including 9229 cases and 9626 controls from North America, the European Union and Australia. Herbicide use was coded from self-report or by expert assessment in the individual studies, for herbicide groups (eg, phenoxy herbicides) and active ingredients (eg, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), glyphosate).

Long working hours, sedentary work, noise, night shifts and risk of ischaemic heart disease.

Objective: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of death in Western countries. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between occupational exposure to loud noise, long working hours, shift work, and sedentary work and IHD.

Methods: This data linkage study included all New Zealanders employed and aged 20-64 years at the time of the 2013 census, followed up for incident IHD between 2013 and 2018 based on hospitalisation, prescription and death records.

Characterization of glyphosate and AMPA concentrations in the urine of Australian and New Zealand populations.

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide globally, but our understanding of human exposure and how different uses affect exposure is not well understood. The aim of this study was to obtain the first data on glyphosate and its primary degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) concentrations in pooled and individual urine from the Australia and New Zealand region using a sensitive direct injection method and compare results with studies from elsewhere. Pooled urine samples from the Australian general population (n = 125 pools representing >1875 individuals) and individual urine samples (n = 27) from occupationally exposed New Zealand farmers were analysed by LC-MS/MS.

Pesticide exposure in New Zealand school-aged children: Urinary concentrations of biomarkers and assessment of determinants.

This study aimed to assess pesticide exposure and its determinants in children aged 5-14 years. Urine samples (n = 953) were collected from 501 participating children living in urban areas (participant n = 300), rural areas but not on a farm (n = 76), and living on a farm (n = 125). The majority provided two samples, one in the high and one in the low spraying season.

Sports and trauma as risk factors for Motor Neurone Disease: New Zealand case-control study.

Objectives: To assess whether sports, physical trauma and emotional trauma are associated with motor neurone disease (MND) in a New Zealand case-control study (2013-2016).

Methods: In total, 321 MND cases and 605 population controls were interviewed collecting information on lifetime histories of playing sports, physical trauma (head injury with concussion, spine injury) and emotional trauma (14 categories). ORs were estimated using logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, smoking status, alcohol consumption and mutually adjusting for all other exposures.

Occupational exposures to pesticides and other chemicals: a New Zealand motor neuron disease case-control study.

Objectives: To assess associations between occupational exposures to pesticides and other chemicals and motor neuron disease (MND).

Methods: A population-based case-control study that included 319 MND cases (64% male/36% female) recruited through the New Zealand MND Association complemented with hospital discharge data, and 604 controls identified from the Electoral Roll. For each job held, a questionnaire collected information on 11 exposure categories (dust, fibres, tobacco smoke, fumes, gas, fumigants, oils/solvents, acids/alkalis, pesticides, other chemicals and animals/animal products).

Airborne Fumigants and Residual Chemicals in Shipping Containers Arriving in New Zealand.

Background: Airborne fumigants and other hazardous chemicals inside unopened shipping containers may pose a risk to workers handling containers.

Methods: Grab air samples from 490 sealed containers arriving in New Zealand were analysed for fumigants and other hazardous chemicals. We also collected grab air samples of 46 containers immediately upon opening and measured the total concentration of volatile organic compounds in real-time during ventilation.

Levels and determinants of urinary phthalate metabolites in New Zealand children and adults.

Background: This first national biomonitoring survey of urinary phthalate metabolites in the New Zealand population aimed to provide baseline data, identify exposure determinants, and make comparisons with health-based exposure guidance values.

Methods: The survey conducted in 2014-2016 involved the collection of morning-void urine from 298 children (5-18 years) and 302 adults (20-65 years), 33% of Māori ethnicity. A questionnaire collected information on demographic factors and diet.

Ischaemic Heart Disease and Occupational Exposures: A Longitudinal Linkage Study in the General and Māori Populations of New Zealand.

Objectives: This study assessed associations between occupational exposures and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) for males and females in the general and Māori populations (indigenous people of New Zealand).

Methods: Two surveys of the general adult [New Zealand Workforce Survey (NZWS); 2004-2006; n = 3003] and Māori population (Māori NZWS; 2009-2010; n = 2107), with information on occupational exposures, were linked with administrative health data and followed-up until December 2018. Cox proportional hazards regression (adjusted for age, deprivation, and smoking) was used to assess associations between organizational factors, stress, and dust, chemical and physical exposures, and IHD.

Exposure to drinking water trihalomethanes and nitrate and the risk of brain tumours in young people.

Brain tumours (BTs) are one of the most frequent tumour types in young people. We explored the association between tap water, exposure to trihalomethanes (THM) and nitrate and neuroepithelial BT risk in young people. Analysis of tap water consumption were based on 321 cases and 919 appendicitis controls (10-24 years old) from 6 of the 14 participating countries in the international MOBI-Kids case-control study (2010-2016).

Total blood mercury and its determinants in New Zealand children and adults.

Background: Mercury is a widespread persistent environmental pollutant associated with adverse health effects.

Objective: This first national biomonitoring survey of blood total mercury (tHg) conducted in New Zealand aimed to provide baseline data and identify exposure determinants.

Methods: Blood was collected from 191 children (age 5-18 years) and 304 adults (20-65) in 2014-2016 and analysed for tHg using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

An empirical test of the biodiversity hypothesis: Exposure to plant diversity is associated with a reduced risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The biodiversity hypothesis posits that declining biodiversity may be responsible, at least in part, for the global increase in immune diseases. However, few studies have been able to demonstrate a link between exposure to biodiversity and specific health outcomes. We test whether exposure to plant diversity protects against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by promoting immune maturation.

The carcinogenicity of pesticides used in New Zealand.

Aim: To estimate the number and weight of pesticides used in New Zealand agriculture that are classified as known or suspected human carcinogens.

Methods: The yearly usage of active ingredients was extracted from the most recent (2005) report on pesticide use. For each active ingredient, the carcinogenicity classification of three regulatory agencies (New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority [EPA NZ], US Environmental Protection Agency, European Chemicals Agency) was extracted.

Lung cancer risk in painters: results from the SYNERGY pooled case-control study consortium.

Objectives: We evaluated the risk of lung cancer associated with ever working as a painter, duration of employment and type of painter by histological subtype as well as joint effects with smoking, within the SYNERGY project.

Methods: Data were pooled from 16 participating case-control studies conducted internationally. Detailed individual occupational and smoking histories were available for 19 369 lung cancer cases (684 ever employed as painters) and 23 674 age-matched and sex-matched controls (532 painters).

Occupational exposure to organic dust and risk of lymphoma subtypes in the EPILYMPH case-control study.

Objectives This study aimed to estimate the risk of lymphoma and its major subtypes in relation to occupational exposure to specific organic dusts. Methods We explored the association in 1853 cases and 1997 controls who participated in the EpiLymph case-control study, conducted in six European countries in 1998-2004. Based on expert assessment of lifetime occupational exposures, we calculated the risk of the major lymphoma subtypes associated with exposure to six specific organic dusts, namely, flour, hardwood, softwood, natural textile, synthetic textile, and leather, and two generic (any types) groups: wood and textile dusts.

Associations of Occupational Exposures to Electric Shocks and Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields With Motor Neurone Disease.

In a New Zealand population-based case-control study we assessed associations with occupational exposure to electric shocks, extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and motor neurone disease using job-exposure matrices to assess exposure. Participants were recruited between 2013 and 2016. Associations with ever/never, duration, and cumulative exposure were assessed using logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, sports, head or spine injury, and solvents, and was mutually adjusted for the other exposure.

Exposures to Fumigants and Residual Chemicals in Workers Handling Cargo from Shipping Containers and Export Logs in New Zealand.

Objectives: Previous studies have reported high concentrations of airborne fumigants and other chemicals inside unopened shipping containers, but it is unclear whether this is reflective of worker exposures.

Methods: We collected personal 8-h air samples using a whole-air sampling method. Samples were analysed for 1,2-dibromoethane, chloropicrin, ethylene oxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen phosphide, methyl bromide, 1,2-dichloroethane, C2-alkylbenzenes, acetaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, styrene, and toluene.

The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Different Occupational Groups in New Zealand.

Objectives: Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been shown to differ between occupations, few studies have specifically evaluated the distribution of known CVD risk factors across occupational groups. This study assessed CVD risk factors in a range of occupational groups in New Zealand, stratified by sex and ethnicity.

Methods: Two probability-based sample surveys of the general New Zealand adult population (2004-2006; n = 3003) and of the indigenous people of New Zealand (Māori; 2009-2010; n = 2107), for which occupational histories and lifestyle factors were collected, were linked with routinely collected health data.

Exposure to Medical Radiation during Fetal Life, Childhood and Adolescence and Risk of Brain Tumor in Young Age: Results from The MOBI-Kids Case-Control Study.

Background: We explored the association between ionizing radiation (IR) from pre-natal and post-natal radio-diagnostic procedures and brain cancer risk within the MOBI-kids study.

Methods: MOBI-kids is an international (Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Spain, The Netherlands) case-control study including 899 brain tumor (645 neuroepithelial) cases aged 10-24 years and 1,910 sex-, age-, country-matched controls. Medical radiological history was collected through personal interview.

Where are we at with lead? Current levels, time trend, and determinants of blood lead in New Zealand children and adults.

Aims: A national biomonitoring survey was conducted in 2014-2016, to determine current blood lead levels (BLL) in New Zealand children and adults and identify determinants of BLL.

Methods: Blood samples were provided by 191 children (age 5-18) and 304 adults (age 20-65) and analysed for BLL using inductively coupled mass spectroscopy. Linear regression on log-transformed BLL was used to assess associations between BLL and demographic and lifestyle factors collected via questionnaire.

Exposure Determinants of Wood Dust, Microbial Components, Resin Acids and Terpenes in the Saw- and Planer Mill Industry.

Objectives: Sawmill workers have an increased risk of adverse respiratory outcomes, but knowledge about exposure-response relationships is incomplete. The objective of this study was to assess exposure determinants of dust, microbial components, resin acids, and terpenes in sawmills processing pine and spruce, to guide the development of department and task-based exposure prediction models.

Methods: 2474 full-shift repeated personal airborne measurements of dust, resin acids, fungal spores and fragments, endotoxins, mono-, and sesquiterpenes were conducted in 10 departments of 11 saw- and planer mills in Norway in 2013-2016.

Association between exposure to the natural environment, rurality, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children in New Zealand: a linkage study.

Background: Several small experimental studies and cross-sectional observational studies have shown that exposure to the natural environment might protect against attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or moderate the symptoms of ADHD in children. We aimed to assess whether exposure to the natural environment protects against ADHD and whether this hypothesised protective effect varies across a child's life course.

Methods: We did a longitudinal study with data collected from all children born in New Zealand in 1998, excluding those without an address history, those who were not singleton births, and those who died or emigrated before 18 years of age.

Welding fumes and lung cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies.

Background: An estimated 110 million workers are exposed to welding fumes worldwide. Welding fumes are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as (group 1), based on of lung cancer from epidemiological studies.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies on welding or exposure to welding fumes and risk of lung cancer, accounting for confounding by exposure to asbestos and tobacco smoking.