TY - JOUR

T1 - Breast cancer among danish women occupationally exposed to diesel exhaust and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 1964–2016

AU - Pedersen, Julie Elbæk

AU - Strandberg-Larsen, Katrine

AU - Andersson, Michael

AU - Hansen, Johnni

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Objective The aim of this study was to explore the association between occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), respectively, and breast cancer subtypes. Methods The study included 38 375 women <70 years with incident breast cancer, identified in the Danish Cancer Registry, and 5 breast cancer-free controls per case who were randomly selected from the Danish Civil Registration System and matched on year of birth. Full employment history was obtained for all study subjects from a nationwide pension fund, and exposure to diesel exhaust and PAH was assessed using a job exposure matrix. Conditional logistic regression was used for estimation of odds ratios (OR) with adjustment for reproductive factors and socioeconomic status. Results No noteworthy associations were observed for overall breast cancer in women exposed to diesel exhaust. However, diesel exhaust modestly elevated the risk of estrogen receptor negative breast tumors before age 50 [OR 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.46]. Duration– and dose–response relationships were further observed for this subtype in this age group. No notable risk patterns were generally observed for PAH exposure. Conclusion Occupational exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of early-onset estrogen receptor negative breast tumors in women. Future studies exploring this association are warranted.

AB - Objective The aim of this study was to explore the association between occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), respectively, and breast cancer subtypes. Methods The study included 38 375 women <70 years with incident breast cancer, identified in the Danish Cancer Registry, and 5 breast cancer-free controls per case who were randomly selected from the Danish Civil Registration System and matched on year of birth. Full employment history was obtained for all study subjects from a nationwide pension fund, and exposure to diesel exhaust and PAH was assessed using a job exposure matrix. Conditional logistic regression was used for estimation of odds ratios (OR) with adjustment for reproductive factors and socioeconomic status. Results No noteworthy associations were observed for overall breast cancer in women exposed to diesel exhaust. However, diesel exhaust modestly elevated the risk of estrogen receptor negative breast tumors before age 50 [OR 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.46]. Duration– and dose–response relationships were further observed for this subtype in this age group. No notable risk patterns were generally observed for PAH exposure. Conclusion Occupational exposure to diesel exhaust may increase the risk of early-onset estrogen receptor negative breast tumors in women. Future studies exploring this association are warranted.

KW - Denmark

KW - Exposure

KW - Female worker

KW - Full job history

KW - JEM

KW - Job exposure matrix

KW - Key terms breast cancer subtype

KW - Occupational exposure

KW - Occupational risk factor

KW - PAH

U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.3923

DO - 10.5271/sjweh.3923

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33025024

AN - SCOPUS:85102404712

VL - 47

SP - 154

EP - 162

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

SN - 0355-3140

IS - 2

ER -