[Environmental and occupational risk factors for myelodysplastic syndrome]

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a previous cancer can lead to subsequent myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, these therapy-related cases are hypothesized to explain only 5 % of diagnosed MDS cases. Environmental or occupational exposure to chemicals or radiations has also been reported to be associated with higher risk of MDS. The present review analyses those studies evaluating the association of MDS with environmental or occupational risk factors. There is sufficient evidence that environmental or occupational exposure to ionizing radiation or benzene can cause MDS. Tobacco smoking is also a sufficiently documented riskfactor for MDS. A positive association has been reported between exposure to pesticides and MDS. However, there is only limited evidence that this association could be causal.