Parental Exposure to Environmental Micropollutants and Its Association With Clinicopathological Features and Early Treatment Outcomes in Acute Leukemia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Leukemia is the most common hematological malignancy in the pediatric population, accounting for approximately 30% of all cancer diagnoses among children under 15 years of age. Its etiology involves a complex interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental risk factors, particularly exposure to carcinogenic agents. In this study, we investigated the impact of parental exposure to micropollutants on the clinicopathological profile and clinical outcomes of offspring diagnosed with acute leukemia.This descriptive, observational study collected data through structured interviews and a standardized questionnaire administered between March 2024 and April 2025. The study population comprised 40 patients aged 0–17 years diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Participants were stratified according to parental exposure status into three groups: a control group (no history of exposure), a micropollutant-exposed group, and a pesticide-exposed group. A high prevalence of parental environmental and occupational exposure to pesticides was observed, with statistically significant differences compared with the control group. Exposure was predominantly reported among mothers and was characterized by direct pesticide handling or application (29%), residence near agricultural areas (52%), and household or occupational contact with pesticides (33%). Correlation analysis revealed that the strongest associations were concentrated among variables related to occupational and environmental pesticide exposure, including direct contact with pesticides, pesticide application by family members, parental involvement in agricultural activities, and residence near agricultural fields. Collectively, these findings identify a cluster of interconnected variables that characterize a shared environmental exposure profile. Regarding disease characteristics, a significant association was observed between parental pesticide exposure and the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) in offspring at day 28 (D28) of treatment. Given that MRD is one of the most robust prognostic markers in acute leukemia, this finding suggests that parental exposure to pesticides may be associated with a less favorable early treatment response. Although causality cannot be established, these results raise the possibility that transgenerational exposure to environmental contaminants may contribute to a more aggressive disease phenotype and poorer therapeutic outcomes in pediatric acute leukemia.
Language: English
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223150779