title: Occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds and biliary tract cancer among men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the association between cancer of the extrahepatic biliary tract and exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether 183 men with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary tract and 1938 matched controls were interviewed between 1995 and 1997 in the frame of an international multicenter case-control study in six European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden). Self-reported job descriptions were converted to semiquantitative variables (intensity, probability, and duration of exposure) for 14 endocrine-disrupting compounds. The cases were compared with 1421 population controls and 517 colon adenocarcinoma patients. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained with unconditional logistic regression and adjusted for age, country, and gallstones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds resulted in an OR of 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-2.1) with no dose-effect relationship for cumulative exposure (low: OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.6-3.0; medium: OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.8-2.7; high: OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9-2.4) (only index participants). The elevated risk was restricted to extrahepatic bile ducts and ampulla Vateri (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.6). The adjusted OR for cancer of the extrahepatic biliary tract after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls was 2.8 (95% CI 1.3-5.9, only index participants).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data show some associations between exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds in the workplace and the risk for cancer of the extrahepatic biliary tract among men, particularly for the extrahepatic bile duct and ampulla of Vater. Polychlorinated biphenyls could possibly be a strong risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany. ahrens@bips.uni-bremen.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Chinara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mambetova
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bourdon-Raverdy
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llopis-González
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guénel
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hardell
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merletti
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morales-Suárez-Varela
authors.forename: Jorn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vyberg
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zambon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances