Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study

The aetiology of childhood brain tumours (CBT) is largely unknown. Damage to germ cells after parental exposure to airborne carcinogens, such as volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is one plausible pathway. This analysis aimed to investigate whether parental refuelling of...

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Main Authors: Greenop, K., Hinwood, A., Fritschi, Lin, Scott, R., Attia, J., Ashton, L., Heath, J., Armstrong, B., Milne, E.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Liss, Inc. 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49813
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author Greenop, K.
Hinwood, A.
Fritschi, Lin
Scott, R.
Attia, J.
Ashton, L.
Heath, J.
Armstrong, B.
Milne, E.
author_facet Greenop, K.
Hinwood, A.
Fritschi, Lin
Scott, R.
Attia, J.
Ashton, L.
Heath, J.
Armstrong, B.
Milne, E.
author_sort Greenop, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The aetiology of childhood brain tumours (CBT) is largely unknown. Damage to germ cells after parental exposure to airborne carcinogens, such as volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is one plausible pathway. This analysis aimed to investigate whether parental refuelling of vehicles or the use of domestic wood heaters in key time periods relating to the child's birth was associated with an increased risk of CBT. Procedure: Cases <15 years of age were recruited through 10 paediatric oncology centres around Australia; controls were recruited through nationwide random-digit dialling, frequency matched to cases on age, sex and State of residence. Exposure to refuelling and wood heaters was ascertained through questionnaires from both parents. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: Data were available for 306 case and 950 control families. Paternal refuelling =4times/month was associated with an increased risk of CBT (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.29), and a dose-dependent trend was observed (P=0.004). No association was seen for maternal refuelling. Use of closed, but not open, wood heaters before (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.15) and after (OR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.01) the child's birth was associated with increased risk of CBT, but dose-response relationships were weak or absent. Conclusions: Paternal refuelling of vehicles =4times/month and the use of closed wood heaters before the child's birth may increase the risk of CBT. Replication in larger studies is needed.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-498132018-03-29T09:07:47Z Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study Greenop, K. Hinwood, A. Fritschi, Lin Scott, R. Attia, J. Ashton, L. Heath, J. Armstrong, B. Milne, E. The aetiology of childhood brain tumours (CBT) is largely unknown. Damage to germ cells after parental exposure to airborne carcinogens, such as volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is one plausible pathway. This analysis aimed to investigate whether parental refuelling of vehicles or the use of domestic wood heaters in key time periods relating to the child's birth was associated with an increased risk of CBT. Procedure: Cases <15 years of age were recruited through 10 paediatric oncology centres around Australia; controls were recruited through nationwide random-digit dialling, frequency matched to cases on age, sex and State of residence. Exposure to refuelling and wood heaters was ascertained through questionnaires from both parents. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: Data were available for 306 case and 950 control families. Paternal refuelling =4times/month was associated with an increased risk of CBT (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.29), and a dose-dependent trend was observed (P=0.004). No association was seen for maternal refuelling. Use of closed, but not open, wood heaters before (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.15) and after (OR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.01) the child's birth was associated with increased risk of CBT, but dose-response relationships were weak or absent. Conclusions: Paternal refuelling of vehicles =4times/month and the use of closed wood heaters before the child's birth may increase the risk of CBT. Replication in larger studies is needed. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49813 10.1002/pbc.25268 Wiley-Liss, Inc. restricted
spellingShingle Greenop, K.
Hinwood, A.
Fritschi, Lin
Scott, R.
Attia, J.
Ashton, L.
Heath, J.
Armstrong, B.
Milne, E.
Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study
title Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study
title_full Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study
title_fullStr Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study
title_full_unstemmed Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study
title_short Vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: Results from an Australian case-control study
title_sort vehicle refuelling, use of domestic wood heaters and the risk of childhood brain tumours: results from an australian case-control study
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/49813