Neuroblastoma and paternal occupation. A case-control analysis.

The peak incidence of neuroblastoma during early infancy suggests that prezygotic or prenatal exposures to carcinogens could be implicated. Several recent epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between parental exposure to petrochemicals and ionizing radiation and the development of cancer in the offspring. This paper is a population-based case-control analysis of the birth certificate data of 157 children who died in Texas from neuroblastoma in 1964-1978 and 314 controls randomly selected from all live births in Texas. Children of fathers employed in occupations with electromagnetic field exposure were at significantly increased risk (odds ratio = 2.13). The odds ratio was 11.75 for children of fathers who reported themselves to be electronics workers (6 cases, 1 control).