An exploratory study of ambient air toxics exposure in pregnancy and the risk of neuroblastoma in offspring

Little is known about the etiology of neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in infancy. In this study, we examined maternal exposure to ambient air toxics in pregnancy in relation to neuroblastoma in the child. We ascertained all cases of neuroblastoma listed in the California Cancer Registry 1990–2007 that could be linked to a California birth certificate, and controls were selected at random from California birth records. Average air toxics exposures during pregnancy were determined based upon measures from community-based air pollution monitors. The study included 75 cases and 14,602 controls who lived with 5km of an air pollution monitor, and we additionally examined results for those living within a smaller radius around the monitor (2.5km). Logistic regression was used to determine the risk of neuroblastoma with one interquartile range increase in air toxic exposure. Neuroblastoma risk was increased with higher maternal exposure to carbon tetrachloride (OR=2.65, 95%CI 1.07, 6.53) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OR=1.39, 95%CI 1.05, 1.84), particularly indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene. Hexavalent chromium was associated with neuroblastoma at the 5km distance (OR=1.32, 95%CI 1.00, 1.74) but not at the 2.5km distance. This is one of the first studies to report associations between neuroblastoma and these air toxics. •We studied exposure to ambient air toxics in pregnancy and neuroblastoma in the child.•Air toxics measures came from community air pollution monitors near the birth address.•Cases were ascertained from the California Cancer Registry.•Carbon tetrachloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and hexavalent chromium increased neuroblastoma risk.