Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Murine Model of Leukemia Relapse to Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Published on: October 17, 2025
Home remodeling and risk of childhood leukemia
Todd P Whitehead1, Praphopphat Adhatamsoontra1, Yang Wang1
1School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley.
Purpose:
We investigated the relationship between the risk of childhood leukemia and home remodeling, a surrogate for indoor chemical exposures.
Methods:
We collected information on remodeling activities carried out between birth and diagnosis in homes of 609 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases, 89 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, and 893 matched controls participating in the California Childhood Leukemia Study (1995-2008). We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the risk of ALL and AML associated with six remodeling activities: construction, painting, recarpeting, reflooring, roofing, and weatherproofing. Models were adjusted for age, sex, Hispanic ethnicity, race, household annual income, and residential mobility.
Results:
Construction in the home between birth and diagnosis was associated with a significant increase in ALL risk (odds ratio [OR]: 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-2.02) and a nonsignificant increase in AML risk (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 0.98-3.15). No other remodeling activities were associated with ALL or AML risk in the main analysis. When stratifying by Hispanic ethnicity, a positive relationship between ALL risk and painting was evident in Hispanic children (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04-2.07).
Conclusions:
Specific home remodeling activities appeared to be associated with increased risk of childhood ALL.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Nucleosome Remodeling
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Biological Effects of Radiation
Mismatch Repair
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

