Multiple myeloma in cosmetologists.

In an hypothesis-generating activity, data in a population-based cancer registry were analyzed according to occupation and industry. The number of cases of multiple myeloma was found to be excessive for females in the occupation "cosmetologists, hairdressers and manicurists." Race did not explain the excess. People in this occupation have potential exposure to a number of chemicals that produce mutations in bacteria. Studies should be done to investigate the hypothesis that these chemicals cause multiple myeloma in cosmetologists.