Parental occupational/non-occupational exposures to environmental agents leading to genetic abnormalities

Research so far includes:

• Pesticides [Daniels, 1997; Zahm & Ward, 1998]
• Carbon related jobs, e.g., paint, benzene, wood dust and radiation exposure [Kwa & Fine, 1980; Sanders, 1981; Arundel, 1986; Savitz & Chen, 1990; McKinney, 1991; Colt & Blair, 1998]
• Recreational use of drugs, e.g., marijuana and cocaine [Tashkin, 2001; Hall & MacPhee, 2002]

Pesticides

Some studies report associations between childhood cancer and parental exposure to pesticides. These studies suggest an increase in risk of brain tumour, leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilm’s tumour, and Ewing’s sarcoma and germ cell tumours associated with parental occupational and non-occupational exposure to pesticides.

Carbon related jobs

Associations between hydrocarbon related parental jobs and CNS tumours, and between paint, benzene, wood dust and radiation exposure of parents and leukaemias have also been reported.

Recreational use of drugs

Possible associations were reported between recreational use of drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, and leukaemia and lymphoma.