Association Between Petroleum Compounds Exposure and Risk of Childhood Leukemia: A Systematic Review

Childhood leukemia remains a critical public health concern, necessitating comprehensive evaluations of environmental risk factors. This systematic review aims to evaluate the epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between combined oil exposure during pregnancy and childhood and an increased risk of childhood leukemia, thereby contributing to improved overall childhood health. The review focused on children diagnosed with leukemia. Following the guidelines set forth by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions' instructions, we conducted a systematic review. Three databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline) were thoroughly searched to find research that was up to May 31, 2025. Two independent reviewers screened the literature by using Covidence software. The methodological quality and potential for bias in each included case-control and cohort study were systematically evaluated using the Quality Assessment Tool integrated within Covidence software. We assessed the overall quality of evidence using AMSTAR 2, a widely used instrument for critically appraising systematic reviews. In total, 13 studies were included in this review: 11 case-control and 2 cohort studies with an overall sample size of 2,808,870 individuals. Four studies indicated a statistically significant association between maternal and paternal exposure to "gasoline, benzene, diesel exhaust, oil, mineral oil, and gas" and an increased likelihood of childhood leukemia. One study indicated that the association with petrol compound exposure appeared stronger for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) than for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Multiple studies reported positive associations between different petroleum compound exposures and childhood leukemia. In conclusion, the current review pointed toward an association between exposure to petrol compounds and a higher risk of childhood leukemia. Therefore, we recommend implementing stricter environmental regulations on benzene emissions and establishing evidence-based safety buffer zones between petrol stations and residential areas. Furthermore, routine air quality monitoring near these sites is essential to safeguard pediatric health.