Breast cancer risk in relation to occupations with exposure to carcinogens and endocrine disruptors: a Canadian case–control study
A carefully conducted and detailed occupational exposure and cancer study conducted in Canada just received the APHA Scientific Award from the Occupational Health section. The biological plausibility of their results regarding breast cancer and certain occupations is supported by extensive toxicological, mechanistic, and other types of peer-reviewed scientific evidence. Many results also echo previous epi studies.
Recognition of higher risk job sectors affords health professionals the opportunity to provide guidance to employers on the need for risk mitigation, to emphasize the need for health screening, and to inform their patients of their higher risk status if they are feeling truly brave. The latter is akin to warnings regarding smoking, the use of performance enhancing drugs, repeated concussions on the athletic field and many other recognized risk factors. While we have no crystal balls to predict health outcomes for an individual, we also can't pretend that we don't have strong science on some elevated work-related risks factors when such information is all around us.
Background
Endocrine disrupting chemicals and carcinogens, some of which may not yet have been classified as such, are present in many occupational environments and could increase breast cancer risk. Prior research has identified associations with breast cancer and work in agricultural and industrial settings. The purpose of this study was to further characterize possible links between breast cancer risk and occupation, particularly in farming and manufacturing, as well as to examine the impacts of early agricultural exposures, and exposure effects that are specific to the endocrine receptor status of tumours.
Conclusions
These observations support hypotheses linking breast cancer risk and exposures likely to include carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, and demonstrate the value of detailed work histories in environmental and occupational epidemiology.
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