Impact of Environmental Pollutants on Breast Cancer and*

Silent Spring Institute, Newtonville MA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION: Breast cancer incidence continues to rise in all age groups in the US, with an increase in age-adjusted incidence of more than 40% from the early 1970s to the late 1990s. Incidence varies geographically, and risk changes as women migrate from low- to high-risk regions. Many factors have been identified that contribute moderately to breast cancer risk -- ionizing radiation, family history, reproductive history, pharmaceutical hormones, body size, alcohol use, and lack of physical activity - but taken together these factors explain less than half of risk. In this context, the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study was initiated in 1994 to investigate higher incidence there, focusing on the possible role of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and mammary carcinogens from wide-area pesticide use, drinking water contaminated by wastewater, and household products. Exposure to EDCs and mammary carcinogens is common from sources such as air and water pollution, detergents, pesticides, cosmetics, plastics, building materials, and furnishings. The study includes a case-control epidemiologic study of 2100 women, a household exposure study of 120 homes, and environmental sampling for EDCs in groundwater and drinking water impacted by septic system wastes. The proposed research will address the following specific aims: (1) in the case-control study, assess the breast cancer risk associated with use of certain cleaning and personal care products; (2) in the household exposure study, (a) compare Cape Cod and national data and (b) characterize the relationships among indoor air, house dust, urinary concentrations, and housing/personal activity variables for 67 EDCs detected in the homes in order to identify sources and pathways of exposure and inform pilot testing of exposure reduction; (3) in the groundwater and drinking water study, use chemical analysis and bioassays to investigate the transport and fate of endogenous and pharmaceutical estrogens, other EDCs, and other Pharmaceuticals from septic systems in groundwater; and (4) invite public input and conduct ongoing outreach programs. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The broad goal is to advance knowledge of environmental factors that may lead to breast cancer prevention by studying the possible role of endocrine disrupting compounds and mammary carcinogens from common exposures to air and water pollution and household products. The health effects of these pollutants are relatively unexplored and offer great promise for identifying avoidable causes of disease, including breast cancer, other hormonal cancers (ovarian, endometrial, testicular, prostate), and reproductive and children's health.