Breast cancer among women in Michigan following exposure to brominated flame retardants.
In this updated follow-up, we investigated the breast cancer experience among women in Michigan exposed to brominated flame retardants, some 30 years following exposure. Michigan residents were enrolled in a study cohort after exposure to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) through the consumption of contaminated food products. PBB concentrations were measured in serum at the time of enrolment. Cancer experience was determined by linkage to the Michigan Cancer Registry. We conducted a nested case-control study that included 51 women diagnosed with breast cancer during 1974-2004 and 202 age-matched controls. While the data suggest an increase in breast cancer risk with higher PBB exposure, this did not reach statistical significance. The OR of having breast cancer among women with PBB concentrations ≥10 ng/mL compared to women with PBB concentrations at or below the limit of detection of 1 ng/mL was 2.60, 95% CI 0.93 to 7.27, (p=0.07), when adjusted for age and family history of cancer in a first-degree female relative. It remains important to examine exposure to brominated chemicals and possible health effects, and to continue following the cancer experience of participants in this study.
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Metrecia L
ML
Terrell
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Karin A
KA
Rosenblatt
Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA Division of Environmental Health, Bureau of Disease Control, Prevention and Epidemiology, Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Julie
J
Wirth
Division of Environmental Health, Bureau of Disease Control, Prevention and Epidemiology, Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Lorraine L
LL
Cameron
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Michele
M
Marcus
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005506:Food Contamination; D054879:Halogenation; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls