Occupational exposure to estrogenic chemicals and the occurrence of breast cancer: An exploratory analysis

✍ Scribed by Ann Aschengrau; Patricia F. Coogan; Margaret M. Quinn; Lisa J. Cashins

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 94 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199807)34:1<6::aid-ajim2>3.0.co;2-x

✦ Synopsis

Background

We conducted a population-based case-control study to describe the relationship between occupational exposure to estrogenic chemicals and the occurrence of breast cancer in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Methods Incident cases of breast cancer (nϭ261) diagnosed from 1983 through 1986 and controls (nϭ753) were interviewed to gather information on breast cancer risk factors and all full-time jobs held since age 18. Blinded exposure assessments were employed using the data from the NIOSH National Occupational Exposure Survey, chemical production and usage information, and the expert judgment of a certified industrial hygienist. Results Overall, 29.5% of cases and 32.5% of controls had probable occupational exposure to one or more xenoestrogens. Probable exposure to nonylphenol (21.5% of cases, 21.4% of controls), butyl benzyl phthalate (10.0% of cases, 13.2% of controls), BHA (7.3% of cases, 9.6% of controls), bisphenol A (9.6% of cases, 11.6% of controls), and 4-tert-butylphenol (2.7% of cases and 5.3% of controls) were relatively common, while probable exposure to the other xenestrogens was rare. Only PCBs and 4-octylphenol were associated with moderate increases in the odds of breast cancer (PCBs: 5 exposed cases and 6 exposed controls, adjusted odds ratio: 3.2, 95%CI ϭ 0.8-12.2, and 4-octylphenol: 6 exposed cases and 5 exposed controls, adjusted odds ratio: 2.9, 95%CI ϭ 0.8-10.8). Conclusions Additional research is needed to corroborate these findings.