Parental occupational exposure to pesticides at birth and risk of adult testicular germ cell tumours in offspring: a French nationwide case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between parental occupational pesticide exposures at birth and adult testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) by histological subtype and the agreement between two pesticide job-exposure matrices (JEM). METHODS: TGCT cases (n=454) and matched controls (n=670) aged 18-45 years were recruited from 20 French university hospitals into the TESTIS national case-control study. Paternal and maternal jobs at birth were obtained from interviews of participants and their mothers/relatives and coded into official nomenclatures (International Standard Classification of Occupations, French nomenclature of activity-1999). Two complementary JEMs, ALOHA+ and FRIJEM, assessed occupational exposure to all pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides with ALOHA+ for each parent by linking job titles to JEM-derived probability and intensity estimates (no/low/high). Cohen's Kappa coefficient (κ) assessed their agreement. ORs and 95% CIs comparing exposure and levels of exposure with no exposure were estimated using conditional logistic regression adjusted for literature-based covariates statistically associated with TGCT and stratified by histological subtypes. RESULTS: Agreement between ALOHA+and FRIJEM was moderate to substantial (κ 0.52-0.80). A statistically non-significant higher TGCT risk was observed for high paternal occupational pesticide exposure with ALOHA+ (OR 1.95, CI 0.98 to 3.84) and FRIJEM (OR 1.70, CI 0.88 to 3.28). With ALOHA+, statistically significant positive associations were seen for high paternal occupational exposure to herbicides (overall: OR 4.23, CI 1.75 to 10.22; seminomas: OR 4.78, CI 1.79 to 12.77; non-seminomas: OR 3.53, CI 1.21 to 10.3) and fungicides (overall: OR 2.09, CI 1.05 to 4.18; seminomas: OR 2.31, CI 1.02 to 5.23). No statistically significant associations were observed for other levels of paternal exposure or pesticide groups nor for maternal exposure. CONCLUSION: Only high paternal occupational exposure to pesticides at birth, especially herbicides and fungicides, was positively associated with TGCT.

Author(s): Paul Adèle, Danjou Aurélie, Coste Astrid, Kromhout Hans, Lefevre Marie, Spinosi Johan, Dananché Brigitte, Olsson Ann, Lamouroux Céline, Guth Margot, Béranger Rémi, Pérol Olivia, Boyle Helen, Hersant Christel, Loup-Cabaniols Vanessa, Veau Segolene, Perrin Jeanne, Schüz Joachim, Charbotel Barbara, Fervers Béatrice

Publishing year: 2026

Pages: Online ahead of print

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