Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disease of unknown etiology, aring from bone marrow cells committed to express immunoglobulin chains. Occupational exposures to solvents (particularly benzene), pesticides, and/or fuels exhausts were supposed to induce evolution to malignancy, eventually in presence of favorable genotypes. A small cluster of subjects working in the same enterprise affected by MM was identified, and occupational etiology therefore supposed. Patients (3 males, 1 female; mean age 64 years) were employed in the same woodworking enterprise, but in different tasks (application of varnishes or glues, refining, or as electrician). Massive use of various classes of solvents (> 5 L/month) was identified in three patients. Personal or group protection equipments were defined as unavailable or inadequate. Patients lived in the same colonial house, and were chronically exposed (> 20 years) to pesticides applied in the near fields. Another subject residing in the same house and previously receiving diagnosis of MM was identified. In the cluster we present, occupational etiology of MM was initially suspected: the different tasks performed by the subjects, the exposure to different classes of solvents employed, and also the common living environment suggest a possible role for non-occupational agents.
Mieloma Multiplo: rischio occupazionale od ambientale?
BERGAMASCHI, Enrico;
2006-01-01
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disease of unknown etiology, aring from bone marrow cells committed to express immunoglobulin chains. Occupational exposures to solvents (particularly benzene), pesticides, and/or fuels exhausts were supposed to induce evolution to malignancy, eventually in presence of favorable genotypes. A small cluster of subjects working in the same enterprise affected by MM was identified, and occupational etiology therefore supposed. Patients (3 males, 1 female; mean age 64 years) were employed in the same woodworking enterprise, but in different tasks (application of varnishes or glues, refining, or as electrician). Massive use of various classes of solvents (> 5 L/month) was identified in three patients. Personal or group protection equipments were defined as unavailable or inadequate. Patients lived in the same colonial house, and were chronically exposed (> 20 years) to pesticides applied in the near fields. Another subject residing in the same house and previously receiving diagnosis of MM was identified. In the cluster we present, occupational etiology of MM was initially suspected: the different tasks performed by the subjects, the exposure to different classes of solvents employed, and also the common living environment suggest a possible role for non-occupational agents.
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