Paternal Occupational Exposure to Heavy Metals and Welding Fumes and Testicular Germ Cell Tumours in Sons in France

Abstract

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men. Its causes are largely unknown, although prenatal occupational and environmental exposures have been suggested. We investigated paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals and welding fumes and the risk of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) in their offspring. A total of 454 cases and 670 controls were included from a French nationwide case–control study. The INTEROCC job exposure matrix was used to assign occupational exposures (cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel, lead, and welding fumes) to the fathers’ jobs. Odds ratios (ORs) for TGCT were estimated using conditional logistic regression models for frequency-matched sets. Three complementary analytical approaches were used: (1) single-agent analysis, (2) analysis by groups, and (3) principal component analysis (PCA). The proportion of paternal exposure to different heavy metals and welding fumes ranged from 0.7% (cadmium) to 11.3% (lead). Based on PCA, three principal components explained 93.5% of the cumulative variance. No associations were found between heavy metals or welding fumes and TGCT. In this study, paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals or welding fumes was not associated with TGCT development in their sons.

Parental occupational exposure to solvents and risk of developing testicular germ cell tumors among sons: a French nationwide case-control study (TESTIS study)

“…It should be noted that the few associations identified in this study presented plausible hypotheses consistent with the results of previous experimental and human studies (18,21,22). Finally, because of the study design, we had to assume that the parental job at birth reflected the exposure at the time of conception and during intrauterine development, following the example of other studies (21,22,37) even though a change in employment may have occurred during these periods. In the TESTIS study, upon written consent by the participants, the participants' mothers were also contacted to offer them participation in the study and a telephone interview.…”

“…This study documents the relationship between parental occupational exposure to solvents and TGCT risk among their offspring in France. Parental occupation at birth was considered as a proxy of solvent exposure before and at conception (37). No solid evidence of an association between parental occupational exposure to solvents at birth and TGCT among sons was found.…”

Parental occupations at birth and risk of adult testicular germ cell tumors in offspring: a French nationwide case–control study

“…Further studies on the different occupational exposures related to these jobs and industries of the parents at birth are needed, as we have done or plan to do with solvents, pesticides, or heavy metals ( 87 ). In addition, the combined effect of early life exposure, leading to the development of GCNIS, and later life exposure in adolescence or adulthood, acting as a trigger for the evolution of GCNIS to TGCT, should be taken into account in future studies.…”

Comparison of the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic and open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for low-stage (stage I/II) testicular germ cell tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common cancers in young adult men 1 . The reason is unknown, although it has been suggested that it may be related to prenatal occupational and environmental exposures 2 . There are significant regional differences in the incidence of testicular cancer, especially in young men in Europe 3 .…”