BACKGROUND: A series of meta-analyses of peer-reviewed studies of brain cancer and farming were performed, using 33 studies published between 1981 and 1996. METHODS: Before the meta-analyses, all studies were reviewed and evaluated for heterogeneity and publication bias. A random-effect model was used to estimate the combined relative risk. RESULTS: A meta-analysis including all the studies yielded an estimator of relative risk equal to 1.30, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.09, 1.56. The estimator of relative risk obtained from a meta-analysis restricted to female farmers was 1.04 (95% CI = 0.84, 1.29). A third meta-analysis restricted to studies of farmers residing in the central United States resulted in an estimator of relative risk equal 1.25 (95% CI = 1.09, 1.44). These findings were not influenced by either a publication bias or a specific study design. CONCLUSION: The consistent significant positive findings suggests that there is a weak association between brain cancer and farming. Exposures commonly experienced by farmers including infectious microorganisms and pesticides may contribute to the increased risk of brain cancer.
BACKGROUND: A series of meta-analyses of peer-reviewed studies of brain cancer and farming were performed, using 33 studies published between 1981 and 1996. METHODS: Before the meta-analyses, all studies were reviewed and evaluated for heterogeneity and publication bias. A random-effect model was used to estimate the combined relative risk. RESULTS: A meta-analysis including all the studies yielded an estimator of relative risk equal to 1.30, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.09, 1.56. The estimator of relative risk obtained from a meta-analysis restricted to female farmers was 1.04 (95% CI = 0.84, 1.29). A third meta-analysis restricted to studies of farmers residing in the central United States resulted in an estimator of relative risk equal 1.25 (95% CI = 1.09, 1.44). These findings were not influenced by either a publication bias or a specific study design. CONCLUSION: The consistent significant positive findings suggests that there is a weak association between brain cancer and farming. Exposures commonly experienced by farmers including infectious microorganisms and pesticides may contribute to the increased risk of brain cancer.
Authors: Quinn T Ostrom; Luc Bauchet; Faith G Davis; Isabelle Deltour; James L Fisher; Chelsea Eastman Langer; Melike Pekmezci; Judith A Schwartzbaum; Michelle C Turner; Kyle M Walsh; Margaret R Wrensch; Jill S Barnholtz-Sloan Journal: Neuro Oncol Date: 2014-07 Impact factor: 12.300
Authors: Robert Dubrow; Amy S Darefsky; Yikyung Park; Susan T Mayne; Steven C Moore; Briseis Kilfoy; Amanda J Cross; Rashmi Sinha; Albert R Hollenbeck; Arthur Schatzkin; Mary H Ward Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2010-06-22 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Claudine M Samanic; Anneclaire J De Roos; Patricia A Stewart; Preetha Rajaraman; Martha A Waters; Peter D Inskip Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2008-02-24 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Dorothée Provost; Anne Cantagrel; Pierre Lebailly; Anne Jaffré; Véronique Loyant; Hugues Loiseau; Anne Vital; Patrick Brochard; Isabelle Baldi Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2007-05-30 Impact factor: 4.402