Childhood cancer: Overview of incidence trends and environmental carcinogens

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3432371· OSTI ID:426044

Zahm, S H; Devesa, S S ^[1]

---

1. National Cancer Inst., Rockville, MD (United States)

An estimated 8000 children 0 to 14 years of age are diagnosed annually with cancer in the United States. Leukemia and brain tumors are the most common childhood malignancies, accounting for 30 and 20% of newly diagnosed cases, respectively. From 1975 to 1978 to 1987 to 1990, cancer among white children increased slightly from 12.8 to 14.1/100,000. Increases are suggested for leukemia, gliomas, and, to a much lesser extent, Wilms` tumor. There are a few well-established environmental causes of childhood cancer such as radiation, chemotherapeutic agents, and diethylstilbestrol. Many other agents such as electromagnetic fields, pesticides, and some parental occupational exposures are suspected of playing roles, but the evidence is not conclusive at this time. Some childhood exposures such as secondhand cigarette smoke may contribute to cancers that develop many years after childhood. For some exposures such as radiation and pesticides data suggest that children may be more susceptible to the carcinogenic effects than similarly exposed adults. 143 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 426044
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal Issue: Suppl.6 Vol. 103; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPAZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
CARCINOGENS
CHILDREN
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NEOPLASMS
PESTICIDES