US EPA

699240 

Journal Article 

Occupation and multiple myeloma: An occupation and industry analysis 

Gold, LS; Milliken, K; Stewart, P; Purdue, M; Severson, R; Seixas, N; Blair, A; Davis, S; Hartge, P; De Roos, AJ 

2010 

Yes 

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
ISSN: 0271-3586
EISSN: 1097-0274 

53 

8 

768-779 

English 

20623662 

10.1002/ajim.20857 

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy with a poorly understood etiology. The purpose of our research was to examine the relationships between lifetime occupations and MM in a relatively large case-control study.

MM cases (n = 180) were identified through cancer registries in the Seattle-Puget Sound area and Detroit. Population-based controls (n = 481) were identified using random digit dialing and Medicare and Medicaid Services files. In-person interviews were conducted to ascertain occupational histories. Standard occupational classification (SOC) and standard industrial classification (SIC) codes were assigned to each job held by each participant. Unconditional logistic regression was used to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between MM and having ever worked in each occupation/industry and according to duration of employment in an occupation/industry.

The risk of MM was associated with several manufacturing occupations and industries, including machine operators and tenders, not elsewhere classified (SOC 76) (OR = 1.8, CI = 1.0-3.3); textile, apparel, and furnishing machine operators and tenders (SOC 765) (OR = 6.0, CI = 1.7-21); and machinery manufacturing, except electrical (SIC 35) (OR = 3.3, CI = 1.7-6.7). Several service occupations and industries, such as food and beverage preparation (SOC 521) (OR = 2.0, CI = 1.1-3.8), were also associated with MM. One occupation that has been associated with MM in several previous studies, painters, paperhangers, and plasterers (SOC 644) was associated with a non-significantly elevated risk (OR = 3.6, CI = 0.7-19).

We found associations between the risk of MM and employment in several manufacturing and service-related occupations and industries. 

Adult 
Aged 
Case-Control Studies 
Female 
Humans 
Logistic Models 
Lymphoma 
Male 
Medicaid 
Medicare 
Michigan 
Middle Aged 
Multiple Myeloma 
Occupational Exposure 
Registries 
Risk Assessment 
Risk Factors 
United States 
Washington