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Title: Breast cancer among women in Michigan following exposure to brominated flame retardants.

Authors: Terrell, Metrecia L; Rosenblatt, Karin A; Wirth, Julie; Cameron, Lorraine L; Marcus, Michele

Published In Occup Environ Med, (2016 Aug)

Abstract: 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.

PubMed ID: 27312402 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast Neoplasms/blood; Breast Neoplasms/chemically induced*; Case-Control Studies; Diet*; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*; Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects*; Environmental Pollutants/blood; Female; Flame Retardants/adverse effects*; Follow-Up Studies; Food Contamination*; Halogenation; Humans; Limit of Detection; Michigan; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Polybrominated Biphenyls/adverse effects*; Polybrominated Biphenyls/blood; Risk Factors

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