Organochlorine Levels in Plasma and Risk of Multiple Myeloma: Organochlorines and risk of multiple myeloma

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the association between organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS:The risk of MM from organochlorine compounds was examined in a population-based case-control study in British Columbia, Canada. Congeners of PCBs and pesticides or pesticide metabolites were measured in plasma of 325 cases and 327 controls. RESULTS:Most organochlorine analytes showed a significant association with MM. The strongest association (highest vs lowest quartile) was oxychlordane (OR = 7.44 95% CI = 4.19–13.21). No heterogeneity was detected between organochlorines levels and MM subtypes. Only oxychlordane and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCCH) were identified as significant independent predictors of MM. CONCLUSIONS:Our study provides evidence that organochlorines contribute to the risk of MM.