Pesticides have been associated with excess risk of multiple myeloma (MM), albeit inconclusively. We included 678 men (30-94 years) from a well-characterized prospective cohort of restricted use pesticide applicators to assess the risk of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Serum samples from all subjects were analyzed by electrophoresis performed on agarose gel; samples with a discrete or localized band were subjected to immunofixation.

From the Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Supported in part by grants CA62242, CA85818, CA93842, and CA100080 from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.

Individual reprints of this article are not available. Address correspondence to S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD, Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (rajkumar.vincent@mayo.edu).