Farm-related exposures and childhood brain tumours in seven countries: results from the SEARCH International Brain Tumour Study.

2003

A total of 1218 cases of childhood brain tumours (CBT) and 2223 control subjects from the general population were included in a population-based case-control study conducted in nine centres in seven countries. Mothers were asked about farm- or agriculture-related exposures. Significantly elevated odds ratios (OR) for CBT were associated with children's personal and maternal prenatal exposure while living on a farm with pigs (child OR = 1.7, mother OR = 2.3), horses (child OR = 1.6, mother OR = 1.8), dogs (child OR = 1.5, mother OR = 1.5) and cats (child OR = 1.5, mother OR = 1.7). Children who were exposed to pigs, horses and cats combined, while living on a farm, had a threefold elevated O…