Beauty product-related exposures and childhood brain tumors in seven countries : results from the SEARCH international brain tumor study

• Published in: Journal of neuro-oncology Vol. 72; no. 2; pp. 133 - 147
• Main Authors: EFIRD, J. T, HOLLY, E. A, PRESTON-MARTIN, S, CORDIER, S, MUELLER, B. A, LUBIN, F, FILIPPINI, G, PERIS-BONET, R, MCCREDIE, M, ARSLAN, A, BRACCI, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.04.2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Australia - epidemiology; Beauty Culture; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - epidemiology; Canada - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Cerebral circulation. Blood-brain barrier. Choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid. Circumventricular organ. Meninges; Child; Child, Preschool; Cosmetics - toxicity; Employment; Europe - epidemiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Israel - epidemiology; Maternal Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Medical sciences; Neurology; New Zealand - epidemiology; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Registries; United States - epidemiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; New Zealand; Canada; Israel; Australia; United States; Europe; Human; Hair; Nervous system diseases; foundation face cream; hair spray; Color; childhood brain tumors; Spray; Intracranial tumor; hair color; beauty products; Cerebral disorder; Hair (head); permanent waves; Central nervous system disease; Face; Child
• ISSN: 0167-594X; 1573-7373
• DOI: 10.1007/s11060-004-3121-0

Data from 1218 cases of childhood brain tumors (CBT) diagnosed between 1976 and 1994 and 2223 matched controls from the general population were included in an analysis of maternal beauty product exposure and beauty-related employment in 9 centers in 7 countries. A 50% increased odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-2.1] for CBT was observed among children of mothers who were exposed via personal use of and/or possible ambient contact with beauty products during the 5 years preceding the index child's birth compared with children of mothers never exposed to beauty products during this time period. Overall maternal personal use of hair-coloring agents in the month before or during the pregnancy of the index child's birth was not associated with CBT (OR = 1.0, CI = 0.83-1.3) or with astroglial (OR = 1.1, CI = 0.85-1.4), PNET (OR = 1.0, CI = 0.71-1.5) and other glial subtypes (OR = 1.0, CI = 0.62-1.0). Similarly, no statistically increased ORs or discernable pattern of risk estimates were observed for period of use or for number of applications per year for maternal personal use of hair-coloring agents overall or by histologic type. Among children born on or after 1980, increased ORs for CBT were associated with maternal non-work-related exposure to any beauty products (OR = 2.6, CI = 1.2-5.9), hair-dyes (OR = 11, CI = 1.2-90), and hair sprays (OR = 3.4, CI = 1.0-11). No overall increased OR for CBT was observed among children of mothers employed in beauty-related jobs during the 5 years preceding the index child's birth compared with those who reported no beauty-related employment. In general, other specific beauty product-related exposures were not associated with increased ORs for CBT. Data from our study provide little evidence of an increased risk for CBT with mothers' exposures to beauty products.