A case-control study on the risk factors of leukemia in mining areas of rare-earth in South Jiangxi / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to explore the correlation on radioactive contamination of lanthanon to leukemia, and provide clues for the causes and prevention of leukemia in mining areas of rare-earth elements.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>1:1 matched case-control study was used. A total of 51 clinically confirmed leukemia cases, individually matched with controls from general population, were interviewed in mining areas of rare-earth in South Jiangxi from November to December, 2001. Data were analyzed, using conditional logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The main risk factors would include frequently drinking water from river (OR = 5.543), distance from residence to rare-earth mine and years for living in the area (OR = 3.308), exposure to organophosphorus pesticide (OR = 3.014). Tea drinking habit appeared to be a protective factor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Leukemia seemed to be related to environmental pollution with rare-earth elements around the residential areas and organophosphorus pesticide exposure. The protective factor of tea drinking habit seemed to be unique in this study, which called for further studies.</p>