US EPA

197083 

Journal Article 

Review 

Organochlorines and breast cancer risk 

Calle, EE; Frumkin, H; Henley, SJ; Savitz, DA; Thun, MJ 

2002 

Yes 

CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians
ISSN: 0007-9235
EISSN: 1542-4863 

52 

5 

301-309 

English 

12363327 

10.3322/canjclin.52.5.301 

WOS:000178469100004 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=12363327
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Organochlorines are a diverse group of synthetic chemicals that include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and organochlorine pesticides such as dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), lindane, and hexachlorobenzene. Although use of DDT and PCBs has been banned in the United States since the 1970s, some organochlorine compounds have accumulated and persisted within the environment. As a result, measurable amounts can still be found in human tissue. Because some organochlorine compounds act as estrogen agonists or antagonists within in vitro and experimental animal systems, a possible association of breast cancer risk with organochlorine exposure has been hypothesized and investigated. Although a few studies support this hypothesis, the vast majority of epidemiological studies do not. While some of these compounds may have other adverse environmental or health effects, organochlorine exposure is not believed to be causally related to breast cancer. Women concerned about possible organochlorine exposure can be reassured that available evidence does not suggest an association between these chemicals and breast cancer. 

Animals; Breast Neoplasms/*chemically induced/*epidemiology; Carcinogens, Environmental/adverse effects; Case-Control Studies; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects; Female; Humans; *Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Incidence; Insecticides/*adverse effects; Pesticide Residues/adverse effects; Risk Factors; United States/epidemiology; Women's Health