Self-reported exposure to pesticides in residential settings and risk of breast cancer: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Pesticides are widely used in households to control insects and weeds. Several studies, over the past decades, have examined the possible relationship of serum concentration of organochlorine pesticides and the development of breast cancer. However, little data exists regarding an association between self-reported, residential exposure to pesticides and breast cancer risk. We, therefore, present a case-control study examining self-reported exposure to household pesticides with regard to associated risk of breast cancer.


METHODS
This study was conducted in the area in and around New York City, NY and included 1205 patients (447 cases and 758 controls). Cases were defined as women with newly diagnosed breast cancer or carcinoma in-situ, while controls included women with benign breast diseases or those undergoing non-breast related surgery. All patients were asked a series of questions to determine their pesticide exposure, including the type of pesticide, location of exposure (inside vs. outside the home), who applied the pesticide (self vs. a professional) and duration of pesticide use. Logistic regression models were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).


RESULTS
The most common pests encountered in participants' homes were ants, carpenter ants, and cockroaches. The calculated adjusted odds ratios for both self and professionally applied pesticides, specifically against the above mentioned insects, with regard to breast cancer risk were 1.25 (95% CI: 0.79-1.98) and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.65-1.73), respectively. Similarly, odds ratios and confidence intervals were calculated for other types of pesticides.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the results of our study did not show an association between self-reported exposure to pesticides and breast cancer risk. Future studies, utilizing a larger sample size and more specific detail on time frame of pesticide exposure, are needed to further explore this question.
Farooq
Umar
U
Department of Internal Medicine, Harrisburg Hospital, Pinnacle Health Hospitals, Harrisburg, PA 17104, USA. ufarooq@pinnaclehealth.org
Joshi
Monika
M
Nookala
Vinod
V
Cheriyath
Pramil
P
Fischman
Daniel
D
Graber
Nora J
NJ
Stellman
Steven D
SD
Muscat
Joshua
J
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006540:Herbicides / Q000009:adverse effects; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
D006540:Herbicides; D007306:Insecticides; D010575:Pesticides