Environmental estrogens and breast cancer risk.
Controversy exists over the role that environmental estrogens, such as pesticides or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), might play as risk factors for breast cancer. Several laboratory studies have suggested that these chemicals function as weak estrogens, binding to the estrogen receptor and inducing various measures of estrogen response. However, epidemiologic studies assessing the link between exposure to pesticides or PCBs and breast cancer have generally not shown enhanced breast cancer risk with higher levels of xenoestrogen exposure. These findings heighten our uncertainty about the relevance of the preclinical findings to human breast cancer risk.
Davidson
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Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Oncology, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003634:DDT / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors
D002273:Carcinogens; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens; D010575:Pesticides; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls