Pesticide Exposure and Risk of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Objective: Development of a case-control study linking pesticides used in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala with the risk of children from that region developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Method: Retrospective study of cases and controls with a sample of 24 patients 0-14 years of age (years 2,000 to 2,009) in Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica UNOP, with an equal number of controls. The risk of exposure to pesticides was established using Odds Ratio OR and X2. Results: It was established that there is a 9.8 times higher risk of developing ALL in children exposed directly or indirectly to pesticides from agricultural activity (p = 0.0025). In addition, there is a 9.3 times higher risk of getting ALL from proximity to crops where pesticides are used (p = 0.0094). There is an 11.5 times higher risk of getting ALL when exposed to pesticide sprayed outside or inside the house (p = 0.020). Conclusion: It was determined children exposed to pesticides are between 9 and 11 times more likely to develop ALL.