Formaldehyde and Leukemia: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Evaluation of Bias

Details

• Personal Author:
  Schwilk E ; Smith AH ; Smith MT ; Steinmaus C ; Zhang L
• Description:
  Objective: Formaldehyde exposures are common, and data linking these exposures to leukemia have been mixed and controversial. The objective of this analysis is to review the current epidemiologic literature on formaldehyde and leukemia. Methods: We performed an updated meta-analysis focusing on high-exposure groups and myeloid leukemia and included two large recent studies: one involving >25,000 workers in US formaldehyde industries and the other involving a cohort of >13,000 funeral directors and embalmers. Results: Formaldehyde was associated with increased risks of leukemia (relative risk = 1.53; 95% confidence interval = 1.11 to 2.21; P = 0.005; 14 studies), specifically myeloid leukemia (relative risk = 2.47; 95% confidence interval = 1.42 to 4.27; P = 0.001; 4 studies). Conclusion: These findings provide evidence of increased myeloid leukemia risk with exposure to formaldehyde. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Blood Carcinogens Epidemiology Formaldehyde Neoplasms Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Cancer Rates Leukemogenesis Risk Assessment
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  52
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053644
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2010 Sep; 52(9):878-886
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Craig Steinmaus, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 1515 Clay Street, 16th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
• Email:
  craigs@berkeley.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Formaldehyde (CAS RN 50-00-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ece9b3478927f956bef7acf02ecb238918dae546248293494a5af45201fe0a3eba77704c66a0caa86cc55f0de133cb5ac92496427810c1eb3aad68b023f55da4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216365/cdc_216365_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 174.02 KB ]