Formaldehyde Exposure and Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Review of the Literature

Alessandro Allegra; Giovanna Spatari; Stefano Mattioli; Stefania Curti; Vanessa Innao; Roberta Ettari; Andrea Gaetano Allegra; Concetto Giorgianni; Sebastiano Gangemi; Caterina Musolino

doi:10.3390/medicina55100638

Formaldehyde Exposure and Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Review of the Literature

Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Sep 25;55(10):638. doi: 10.3390/medicina55100638.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy. aallegra@unime.it.
² Department of Environmental Science, Safety, Territory, Food and Health, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy. gspatari@unime.it.
³ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy. smattioli@unibo.it.
⁴ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy. stefania.curti@unibo.it.
⁵ Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy. vinnao@unime.it.
⁶ Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy. rettari@unime.it.
⁷ Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy. andrea.allegra@hotmail.it.
⁸ Department of Environmental Science, Safety, Territory, Food and Health, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy. mariogiorgianni@virgilio.it.
⁹ School and Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital "G. Martino", Via Consolare Valeria SNC, 98125 Messina, Italy. sgangemi@unime.it.
¹⁰ Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy. cmusolino@unime.it.

Abstract

Background and objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between cumulative and peak formaldehyde exposure and occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia. Material and Methods: A comprehensive search was performed using the PubMed and Embase databases. We included studies presenting information about the role of formaldehyde in leukemic occurrence and mortality risk. Then, full texts of the selected references were assessed, and references of included studies were checked to identify additional articles. Result: The information was then summarized and organized in the present review. A total of 81 articles were obtained from the search. Conclusion: Findings from the review of the literature do not support the hypothesis that formaldehyde is a cause of acute myeloid leukemia.

Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia; cancer; carcinogenesis; formaldehyde; occupational exposure.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Formaldehyde / adverse effects*
Formaldehyde / toxicity
Hematologic Neoplasms / chemically induced*
Hematologic Neoplasms / mortality
Humans
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / chemically induced*
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality
Occupational Diseases / chemically induced*
Occupational Diseases / mortality
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*

Substances

Formaldehyde