Women's occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk of breast cancer

Occup Environ Med. 2019 Jan;76(1):22-29. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2018-105261.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the association between occupational polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and female breast cancer.

Methods: Lifetime work histories for 1130 cases and 1169 controls from British Columbia and Ontario (Canada) were assessed for PAH exposure using a job-exposure matrix based on compliance measurements obtained during US Occupational Safety and Health Administration workplace safety inspections.

Results: Exposure to any level of PAHs was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.59), as was duration at high PAH exposure (for >7.4 years: OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.91; ptrend=0.01), compared with women who were never exposed. Increased risk of breast cancer was most strongly associated with prolonged duration at high occupational PAH exposure among women with a family history of breast cancer (for >7.4 years: OR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.25 to 6.24; ptrend<0.01).

Conclusions: Our study suggests that prolonged occupational exposure to PAH may increase breast cancer risk, especially among women with a family history of breast cancer.

Keywords: cancer; epidemiology; exposure assessment; polyaromatic hydrocarbons (pahs).

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemically induced*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • British Columbia / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Logistic Models
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Occupational Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Ontario / epidemiology
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / toxicity*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons