Occupation, pesticide exposure and risk of multiple myeloma.

Objectives: This population-based case-control study examined the relationship between occupation, living or working on a farm, pesticide exposure, and the risk of multiple myeloma.

Methods: The study included 573 persons newly diagnosed with myeloma and 2131 controls. Information was obtained on sociodemographic factors, occupational history, and history of living and working on a farm.

Why do Black Americans have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than White Americans?

Background: For several decades, the incidence of pancreatic cancer has been 50% to 90% higher among blacks than among whites in the United States. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors that may contribute to this racial disparity.

Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study of pancreatic cancer diagnosed in Atlanta (GA), Detroit (MI), and 10 New Jersey counties from August 1986 through April 1989.

Evaluation of concurrent personal measurements of acrylonitrile using different sampling techniques.

In a retrospective assessment of employee exposure to acrylonitrile (AN) for an epidemiological study, investigators from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated the feasibility of using historic acrylonitrile air samples without modification. The evaluation discussed here was to determine whether the air sampling results across plants were comparable. During site visits to each plant conducted between 1984 and 1986, study investigators collected personal air samples for four days on approximately ten jobs per day.