KEY TAKEAWAYS
- This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the association between wood dust exposure and leukemia risk.
- Researchers found a strong link between wood dust exposure and higher leukemia risk, stressing preventive measures.
Occupational exposure to wood dust is a recognized health hazard, with prior studies suggesting a potential link to an elevated risk of leukemia.
Yaser Soleimani and the team aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between wood dust exposure and leukemia. The objectives included synthesizing available evidence, assessing its quality, identifying potential sources of heterogeneity, and drawing conclusions regarding the association between wood dust and leukemia.
A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating the association between wood dust exposure and leukemia. To ensure the reliability of the findings, the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools were used for a robust quality assessment of the included studies.
A meta-analysis employing random-effects models was then performed to synthesize the evidence from studies with a low risk of bias. Overall odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% CIs were calculated to quantify the strength of the association. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity across the studies.
About 7 studies examining the link between wood dust exposure and leukemia risk met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The analysis revealed a statistically significant positive association between wood dust exposure and leukemia.
The overall OR was found to be 1.56 (95% CI: 1.15-2.12), indicating that individuals exposed to wood dust are 1.56 times more likely to develop leukemia than those without exposure. The 95% CI, ranging from 1.15 to 2.12, suggests a substantial risk elevation consistent across different study designs.
The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools confirmed a low risk of bias in all included studies, strengthening the credibility of the observed association. Notably, subgroup analysis based on the year of publication revealed significant differences in effect sizes, indicated by an I2 value of 87%, highlighting the potential influence of study characteristics or temporal trends on the association between wood dust exposure and leukemia risk.
This meta-analysis provided robust evidence supporting an increased risk of leukemia associated with wood dust exposure.These findings underscore the importance of implementing proactive measures to mitigate wood dust exposure in occupational settings, particularly in industries related to woodworking and forestry, to protect the health and safety of workers.
Funding was provided by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science (Grant Number: 43005282).
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39190678/
Soleimani Y, Daraei M, Sadeghi P, et al. (2024). “Wood dust and risk of leukemia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.” PLoS One. 2024;19(8):e0307444. Published 2024 Aug 27. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0307444
