Parents who smoke may raise child’s leukemia risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – The risk of leukemia in
childhood appears to be increased when fathers smoke, even if
the smoking occurs before conception, and with exposure to
smoking after birth, researchers report in the American Journal
of Epidemiology.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Chang of the University of California,
Berkeley and colleagues note that cigarette smoking has been
linked to leukemia in adults, but the association in children
has remained unclear.

To investigate further, the researchers conducted a study
of 287 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 46
with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 416 “control” children
without leukemia.

Chang’s group found that maternal smoking alone was not
associated with an increased risk of either type of leukemia,
but paternal smoking before conception increased the risk of
AML by almost four times and a possible increased risk of ALL
was suggested.

However, the investigators point out that the strong
association with AML was based on data from only 16 cases and 8
controls.

The researchers also found that the risk of ALL was greater
when paternal smoking before conception was combined with
maternal smoking after birth and other passive smoking
exposure.

The team notes that the public is aware of the detrimental
effect of maternal smoking on the fetus. “The knowledge of a
potentially harmful effect of paternal smoking exposure,” they
conclude, “may provide men with a stronger incentive to quit.”

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, June 2006.