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Occupational exposure to organic solvents and risk of male breast cancer : A European multicenter case-control study

Laouali, Nasser ; Pilorget, Corinne ; Cyr, Diane ; Neri, Monica ; Kaerlev, Linda ; Sabroe, Svend ; Gorini, Giuseppe ; Richiardi, Lorenzo ; Morales-Suárez-Varela, Maria and Llopis-Gonzalez, Agustin , et al. (2018) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 44(3). p.312-322
Abstract

Objectives The etiology of male breast cancer (MBC) is largely unknown but a causal role of exposure to organic solvents has been suggested. Previous studies on occupational risk factors of breast cancer were often restricted to women who are frequently exposed to lower levels and at a lower frequency than men. We investigated the association between MBC and occupational exposure to petroleum and oxygenated and chlorinated solvents in a multicenter case-control study of rare cancers in Europe. Methods The study included 104 MBC cases and 1901 controls. Detailed lifetime work history was obtained during interviews, together with sociodemographic characteristics, medical history and lifestyle factors. Occupational exposures to solvents... (More)

Objectives The etiology of male breast cancer (MBC) is largely unknown but a causal role of exposure to organic solvents has been suggested. Previous studies on occupational risk factors of breast cancer were often restricted to women who are frequently exposed to lower levels and at a lower frequency than men. We investigated the association between MBC and occupational exposure to petroleum and oxygenated and chlorinated solvents in a multicenter case-control study of rare cancers in Europe. Methods The study included 104 MBC cases and 1901 controls. Detailed lifetime work history was obtained during interviews, together with sociodemographic characteristics, medical history and lifestyle factors. Occupational exposures to solvents were estimated from a job-exposure matrix. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression models. Results Lifetime cumulative exposure to trichloroethylene >23.9 ppm years was associated with an increased MBC risk, compared to non-exposure [OR (95% CI): 2.1 (1.2-4.0); P trend <0.01). This increase in risk persisted when only exposures that occurred ≥10 years before diagnosis were considered. In addition, a possible role for benzene and ethylene glycol in MBC risk was suggested, but no exposure-response trend was observed. Conclusions These findings add to the evidence of an increased risk of breast cancer among men professionally exposed to trichloroethylene and possibly to benzene or ethylene glycol. Further studies should be conducted in populations with high level of exposure to confirm our results.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alcoholic solvent, Benzene, Chlorinated solvent, Ethylene glycol, JEM, Job-exposure matrix, Petroleum solvent, Trichloroethylene
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
44
issue
3
pages
11 pages
publisher
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
external identifiers
  • scopus:85046474467
  • pmid:29405242
ISSN
0355-3140
DOI
10.5271/sjweh.3717
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
db54b1cd-99ce-4303-8e71-b5244c9a55ac
date added to LUP
2018-05-17 12:58:54
date last changed
2024-04-29 08:30:57
@article{db54b1cd-99ce-4303-8e71-b5244c9a55ac,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives The etiology of male breast cancer (MBC) is largely unknown but a causal role of exposure to organic solvents has been suggested. Previous studies on occupational risk factors of breast cancer were often restricted to women who are frequently exposed to lower levels and at a lower frequency than men. We investigated the association between MBC and occupational exposure to petroleum and oxygenated and chlorinated solvents in a multicenter case-control study of rare cancers in Europe. Methods The study included 104 MBC cases and 1901 controls. Detailed lifetime work history was obtained during interviews, together with sociodemographic characteristics, medical history and lifestyle factors. Occupational exposures to solvents were estimated from a job-exposure matrix. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression models. Results Lifetime cumulative exposure to trichloroethylene &gt;23.9 ppm years was associated with an increased MBC risk, compared to non-exposure [OR (95% CI): 2.1 (1.2-4.0); P trend &lt;0.01). This increase in risk persisted when only exposures that occurred ≥10 years before diagnosis were considered. In addition, a possible role for benzene and ethylene glycol in MBC risk was suggested, but no exposure-response trend was observed. Conclusions These findings add to the evidence of an increased risk of breast cancer among men professionally exposed to trichloroethylene and possibly to benzene or ethylene glycol. Further studies should be conducted in populations with high level of exposure to confirm our results.</p>}},
  author       = {{Laouali, Nasser and Pilorget, Corinne and Cyr, Diane and Neri, Monica and Kaerlev, Linda and Sabroe, Svend and Gorini, Giuseppe and Richiardi, Lorenzo and Morales-Suárez-Varela, Maria and Llopis-Gonzalez, Agustin and Ahrens, Wolfgang and Jöckel, Karl Heinz and Afonso, Noemia and Eriksson, Mikael and Merletti, Franco and Olsen, Jørn and Lynge, Elsebeth and Guénel, Pascal}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  keywords     = {{Alcoholic solvent; Benzene; Chlorinated solvent; Ethylene glycol; JEM; Job-exposure matrix; Petroleum solvent; Trichloroethylene}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{312--322}},
  publisher    = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{Occupational exposure to organic solvents and risk of male breast cancer : A European multicenter case-control study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3717}},
  doi          = {{10.5271/sjweh.3717}},
  volume       = {{44}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}