Occupation and Breast Cancer

Abstract

A local collaborative process was launched in Windsor, Ontario, Canada to explore the role of occupation as a risk factor for cancer. An initial hypothesis-generating study found an increased risk for breast cancer among women aged 55 years or younger who had ever worked in farming. On the basis of this result, a 2-year case-control study was undertaken to evaluate the lifetime occupational histories of women with breast cancer. The results indicate that women with breast cancer were nearly three times more likely to have worked in agriculture when compared to the controls (OR = 2.80 [95% CI, 1.6-4.8]). The risk for those who worked in agriculture and subsequently worked in automotive-related manufacturing was further elevated (OR = 4.0 [95% CI, 1.7-9.9]). The risk for those employed in agriculture and subsequently employed in health care was also elevated (OR = 2.3 [95% CI, 1.1-4.6]). Farming tended to be among the earlier jobs worked, often during adolescence. While this article has limitations including the small sample size and the lack of information regarding specific exposures, it does provide evidence of a possible association between farming and breast cancer. The findings indicate the need for further study to determine which aspects of farming may be of biological importance and

Breast cancer risk in relation to occupations with exposure to carcinogens and endocrine disruptors: a Canadian case–control study

“…Two exploratory breast cancer case–control studies were undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of occupational and environmental researchers but had limited statistical power and exposure assessment. The first was a hypothesis-generating multi-cancer case control study [26]; the second study focussed exclusively on breast cancer [27]. …”

“…The prior hypotheses of the current breast cancer study were based on: a) previous work on the environmental causes of breast cancer, b) current theories of carcinogenesis and endocrine effects, and c) findings of a previous breast cancer study that observed: increased risks among women with an occupational history of farming (OR = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.6 - 4.8) and among those who subsequently worked in auto-related manufacturing (OR = 4.0; 95% CI, 1.7 - 9.9), or in health care (OR = 2.3; (95% CI, 1.1 - 4.6) [27]. In the same geographic area of Ontario, the present study includes: a much larger sample from a later and distinct time period; a more detailed classification of potential exposures; and a more extensive compilation of non-occupational risk factor information.…”

Paper versus Practice : Occupational Health and Safety Protections and Realities for Temporary Foreign Agricultural Workers in Ontario

“…The risk for farm injury increased with level of stress (Simpson et al, 2004). Research has demonstrated a possible association between breast cancer and farming; women with breast cancer were nearly three times more likely to have worked in agriculture when compared to the controls (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6-4.8) (Brophy et al, 2002(Brophy et al, , 2006. Similarly, studies have identified links between pesticide exposure and spontaneous abortion (Arbuckle et al, 1999a;Curtis et al, 1999;Kristensen, 1999).…”

Occupational Cancer

“…In a large cohort of female textile workers in China, increased risk of ovarian cancer was associated with work in textile finishing and exposure to silica dust. 151 Increased risk of ovarian cancer has been observed among women employed as chemists, engineers, or in laboratory occupations, 46 teachers, 61 cosmetologists, 20À22 dry cleaners, 33 nurses and radiologic technologists, 48,61,63,177 office and clerical workers. 61,292À293 Ovarian cancer has also been elevated in printing industries, 33,139,145 the semi-conductor industry, 112 women exposed to pesticides, 178,180,182 and in the aerospace industry in women exposed to trichloroethylene.…”