Testicular cancer and occupational exposures with a focus on xenoestrogens in polyvinyl chloride plastics

In a case-control study of 148 cases of testicular cancer and 314 healthy controls information was collected on lifetime working histories and specific exposures. The main finding was a six-fold increase in the risk for seminoma, one type of testicular cancer, among plastic workers exposed to polyvi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere 2000-05, Vol.40 (9-11), p.1277-1282
Main Authors: Ohlson, C G, Hardell, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Case-Control Studies
Environmental Exposure
estrogens
Estrogens - poisoning
Humans
Industrial Waste
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure
Odds Ratio
Phthalic Acids - poisoning
polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl Chloride - analysis
Polyvinyl Chloride - poisoning
Risk Factors
Rural Population
Seminoma - chemically induced
testes
Testicular Neoplasms - chemically induced
Urban Population
Xenobiotics
xenoestrogens
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Summary:In a case-control study of 148 cases of testicular cancer and 314 healthy controls information was collected on lifetime working histories and specific exposures. The main finding was a six-fold increase in the risk for seminoma, one type of testicular cancer, among plastic workers exposed to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). No overrisks were observed for other plastics than PVC. There may be an aetiological link to xenoestrogens, i.e. chemicals in the environment with oestrogenic properties. Phthalates are used in PVC as plasticizer and have oestrogenic properties that could promote the growth of endocrine sensitive tumour cells. However, this "endocrine disruptors" hypothesis must be further evaluated in experimental models with regard to the causative mechanisms of the oestrogenic tumour promotion.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00380-X