| Disease/Syndrome |
Leukemia |
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| Category |
Cancer, Occupational |
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| Acute/Chronic |
Chronic |
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| Synonyms |
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL); Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML); Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); Other synonyms: Erythroleukemia; Leukemia, acute lymphocytic; Leukemia, acute myelogenous; |
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| Biomedical References |
Search PubMed |
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| Comments |
Leukemias represent 3% of all malignant neoplasms. Ionizing radiation, benzene, and cytotoxic drugs are known causes of acute leukemia. In atomic bomb survivors, the incidence of acute leukemias peaked at 2 to 5 years and declined after 10 years. After chemotherapy, the incidence peaks at 5 to 8 years. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is limited mainly to the first 2 decades of life. (Rosenstock, p. 746-7) Occupational exposure to benzene >200 ppm per year is associated with leukemia, specifically AML. [Sullivan, p. 756-7] There is very little evidence that workers exposed to benzene or ethylene oxide have an increased risk of CLL. [Schottenfeld, p. 857] There is strong evidence for associations between the following and occupational leukemia: boot and shoe manufacture and repair, benzene, ionizing radiation, and ethylene oxide. [Siemiatycki, p. 334] In studies of ionizing radiation and leukemia, strong associations were found for Japanese A-bomb survivors, radiation treatments for spondylitis, and use of Thorotrast as a contrast agent. Meaningful associations were found for radiologists working in past decades and Mayak workers. Negative associations were found for radium dial painters, underground miners, uranium processors, and Chernobyl cleanup workers. For nuclear workers the association is a "suggested but unconfirmed or questionable association." Ionizing radiation increases risks for acute lymphocytic and acute myeloid leukemias and chronic myeloid leukemia, but not for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [Boice, p. 261, 268] |
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| Latency/Incubation |
Months to years |
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| Diagnostic |
Bone marrow examination |
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| ICD-9 Code |
208.9 |
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| Related Information in Haz-Map |
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| Agents |
Hazardous agents that cause the occupational disease:
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