Hematological Malignancies and Pesticide Exposure: Comprehensive Evidence from Seven Leading Hospitals in Bangladesh

Author(s): Amin Lutful Kabir, Mujahida Rahman, Kazi Md. Kamrul Islam, M. A. Khan, A.K.M. Kamruzzaman, Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Md. Fakhruddin Bhuiyan, Shahed Ahmad Chowdhury, M. Morsed Zaman Miah, Nasrin Akhter, Mahbuba Sharmin Linia

Hematological malignancies (HMs) pose major global health challenges, with their prevalence varying significantly across populations. The rising incidence of these cancers in low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh emphasizes the crucial need to comprehend their patterns and possible contributing factors, especially owing to the dearth of cancer data. This study seeks to explore the distribution of HMs and investigate their potential association with pesticide exposure. A multi-center hospital-based observational study was conducted in seven specialized hospitals in Bangladesh with confirmed cases of HMs through a diagnostic procedure among a population of 12 years or older between July 2017 and June 2018. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and subgroup analyses were employed, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. A total of 430 confirmed HMs were examined, with a median age of 35 years, involving both males (67.2%) and females (32.8%). The highest prevalence was observed among aged 20 years or younger. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) were the most prevalent HMs. Pesticide use was reported more frequently among males (42.9%) compared to females (19.2%). Although the association between overall pesticide usage and HMs was not statistically significant (p = 0.18), subgroup analysis revealed a significant association was found between pesticide usage and HM occurrence (p = 0.01). This study contributes to the understanding of the complex interplay of factors influencing HM patterns in Bangladesh, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and awareness campaigns to mitigate this growing public health concern.