title: Chemical exposures in the workplace: effect on breast cancer risk among women.
abstract: Occupational health nurses need to be aware of the current science on breast cancer risks in the workplace because they are risk communicators for employees and their families. Occupational health nurses can serve as advocates for necessary research ultimately leading to risk reduction and prevention strategies in the workplace. Current research suggests exposure to organic solvents, metals, acid mists, sterilizing agents (ethylene oxide), some pesticides, light at night (shift work), and tobacco smoke increases breast cancer risk among women in occupational settings. Animal cancer bioassays conducted by the National Toxicology Program indicate more than 40 chemicals can induce mammary tumors, and most of these are still in production. A variety of occupations worldwide, including health care providers and metal, textile, dye, rubber, and plastic manufacturing workers, have been identified as having some evidence of higher breast cancer risk. Although some chemical exposures are suspected to affect breast cancer risk, estimates of or actual exposures to these chemicals in the workplace often have not been determined. Research needed to better identify breast cancer risks in occupational settings includes monitoring breast cancer incidence in occupations with exposures to suspected carcinogens, characterizing chemical exposures by job type and task, determining whether potential gender differences affect chemical exposures, and using molecular approaches to identify gene-environment interactions.
authors.affiliation: Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors, Sprecher Institute for Comparative Cancer Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Snedeker
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D024802:Nurse's Role; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing; D017584:Reproductive History; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances