Occupation and occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in male breast cancer: a case-control study in Europe.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Male breast cancer is a rare disease of largely unknown aetiology. In addition to genetic and hormone-related risk factors, a large number of environmental chemicals are suspected of playing a role in breast cancer. The identification of occupations or occupational exposures associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer in men may help to identify mammary carcinogens in the environment.

METHODS:

Occupational risk factors for male breast cancer were investigated in a multi-centre case-control study conducted in eight European countries which included 104 cases and 1901 controls. Lifetime work history was obtained during in-person interviews. Occupational exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals (alkylphenolic compounds, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins) were assessed on a case-by-case basis using expert judgement.

RESULTS:

Male breast cancer incidence was particularly increased in motor vehicle mechanics (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.4) with a dose-effect relationship with duration of employment. It was also increased in paper makers and painters, forestry and logging workers, health and social workers, and furniture manufacture workers. The OR for exposure to alkylphenolic compounds above the median was 3.8 (95% CI 1.5 to 9.5). This association persisted after adjustment for occupational exposures to other environmental oestrogens.

CONCLUSION:

These findings suggest that some environmental chemicals are possible mammary carcinogens. Petrol, organic petroleum solvents or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are suspect because of the consistent elevated risk of male breast cancer observed in motor vehicle mechanics. Endocrine disruptors such as alkylphenolic compounds may play a role in breast cancer.

• Authors: Sara Villeneuve, Diane Cyr, Elsebeth Lynge, Laurent Orsi, Svend Sabroe, Franco Merletti, Giuseppe Gorini, Maria Morales-Suarez-Varela, Wolfgang Ahrens, Cornelia Baumgardt-Elms, Linda Kaerlev, Mikael Eriksson, Lennart Hardell, Joëlle Févotte, Pascal Guénel
• Journal: Occupational and environmental medicine (Occup Environ Med) Vol. 67 Issue 12 Pg. 837-44 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1470-7926 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20798010 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Endocrine Disruptors

Topics

• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Alcohol Drinking (adverse effects, epidemiology)
• Breast Neoplasms, Male (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Educational Status
• Endocrine Disruptors (toxicity)
• Epidemiologic Methods
• Europe (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Industry (statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Diseases (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects, analysis)
• Occupations (statistics & numerical data)