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The Upper Midwest Health Study – A case-control study of primary intracranial glioma in rural residents |
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BackgroundBrain cancer is nearly uniformly fatal but the etiology of this disease remains largely unknown. Incidence and mortality rose significantly from the mid-70s through the 80s and then declined somewhat. However, among the elderly, rates increased most rapidly and did not then decline (SEER Cancer Fact Sheets, Cancer of the Brain and Other Nervous System 2007 http://www.seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/brain.html). Farmers are generally at lower risk for cancer overall. However, farmers have consistently been found to be at increased risk for brain cancer; the reason for the observed increase is unclear. In 1991 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health received a Congressional mandate to study occupational health and safety in the agricultural sector. A group in the Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies focused on cancer in farmers and decided to investigate possible explanations for the excess of brain cancer in farmers. Because brain cancer incidence was elevated in the Upper Midwest, and because these states have substantial farm populations, the study concentrated on Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Collaborators in each state were recruited for field work. A protocol was approved in 1994 and contracts with the collaborators began that year. PurposeTo evaluate whether farm exposures explain increased risk of brain cancer among farmers To ascertain whether evaluated nonfarm occupational exposures are associated with increased risk of brain cancer among participants in our case-control study To identify genetic susceptibility factors associated with increased risk of brain cancer in participants in our case-control study. Publications to date (2008)
Issues when modeling benzene, toluene, and xylene exposures using a literature database
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in selected cytokine genes and risk of adult glioma The Upper Midwest Health Study: a case-control study of primary intracranial gliomas in farm and rural residents Gliomas and farm pesticide exposure in women: the Upper Midwest Health Study Gliomas and farm pesticide exposure in men: the Upper Midwest Health Study Reproductive factors and risk of glioma in women Pesticide prioritization for a brain cancer case-control study More Information/CollaborationsThose interested in more details of Upper Midwest Health Study publications and investigators interested in collaborations with NIOSH utilizing Upper Midwest Health Study data should contact the project officer: Avima Ruder, Ph.D. amr2@cdc.gov Page last updated: June 4, 2008
Page last reviewed: July 24, 2008 Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
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