Risk of premenopausal breast cancer in association with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relationship between risk of premenopausal breast cancer and occupational exposure to benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and whether the proposed relationship between PAH and breast cancer differed by tumor estrogen receptor (ER) status.


METHODS
In a case-referent study of premenopausal breast cancer, occupational histories and other information were obtained through interviews, and job-exposure matrices were used to assess exposure to PAH and benzene.


RESULTS
A dose-response relationship for the probability of exposure to benzene [low: odds ratio (OR) 1.64, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.64-4.21; high: OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.14-3.33) and to PAH (low: OR 1.56, 95% CI 0.78-3.12; high: OR 2.40, 95% CI 0.96-6.01). Risk increased with duration of exposure to benzene, but not to PAH. A dose-response relationship was not evident for the intensity of exposure to benzene or to PAH. When analyses were stratified by tumor ER status, PAH exposure was related to a greater increase in the risk of ER-positive (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.14-4.54) than ER-negative (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.47-2.64) breast cancer. Risk of ER-positive, but not ER-negative, tumors increased with the probability of exposure to PAH.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest an association between risk and occupational exposure to benzene. Although it was difficult to study PAH independently of benzene, there was some suggestion of an association between PAH exposure and ER-positive tumors. These data should be interpreted with caution because of the limitations of this study, including low-response rates and small numbers of exposed persons.
Petralia
S A
SA
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, United States. sp126i@nih.com
Vena
J E
JE
Freudenheim
J L
JL
Dosemeci
M
M
Michalek
A
A
Goldberg
M S
MS
Brasure
J
J
Graham
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002273:Carcinogens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017697:Premenopause; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D018570:Risk Assessment
D002273:Carcinogens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D001554:Benzene