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Self-reported exposure to pesticides in residential settings and risk of breast cancer: a case-control study

Overview of attention for article published in Environmental Health, June 2010
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Title
Self-reported exposure to pesticides in residential settings and risk of breast cancer: a case-control study
Published in
Environmental Health, June 2010
DOI 10.1186/1476-069x-9-30
Pubmed ID
Authors

Umar Farooq, Monika Joshi, Vinod Nookala, Pramil Cheriyath, Daniel Fischman, Nora J Graber, Steven D Stellman, Joshua Muscat

Abstract

Pesticides are widely used in households to control insects and weeds. Several studies, over the past decades, have examined the possible relationship of serum concentration of organochlorine pesticides and the development of breast cancer. However, little data exists regarding an association between self-reported, residential exposure to pesticides and breast cancer risk. We, therefore, present a case-control study examining self-reported exposure to household pesticides with regard to associated risk of breast cancer. This study was conducted in the area in and around New York City, NY and included 1205 patients (447 cases and 758 controls). Cases were defined as women with newly diagnosed breast cancer or carcinoma in-situ, while controls included women with benign breast diseases or those undergoing non-breast related surgery. All patients were asked a series of questions to determine their pesticide exposure, including the type of pesticide, location of exposure (inside vs. outside the home), who applied the pesticide (self vs. a professional) and duration of pesticide use. Logistic regression models were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). The most common pests encountered in participants' homes were ants, carpenter ants, and cockroaches. The calculated adjusted odds ratios for both self and professionally applied pesticides, specifically against the above mentioned insects, with regard to breast cancer risk were 1.25 (95% CI: 0.79-1.98) and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.65-1.73), respectively. Similarly, odds ratios and confidence intervals were calculated for other types of pesticides. Overall, the results of our study did not show an association between self-reported exposure to pesticides and breast cancer risk. Future studies, utilizing a larger sample size and more specific detail on time frame of pesticide exposure, are needed to further explore this question.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 38 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Spain 1 3%
Nigeria 1 3%
Unknown 36 95%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Researcher 8 21%
Student > Master 7 18%
Other 5 13%
Student > Ph. D. Student 5 13%
Professor 3 8%
Other 5 13%
Unknown 5 13%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 9 24%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 6 16%
Environmental Science 5 13%
Psychology 5 13%
Social Sciences 3 8%
Other 5 13%
Unknown 5 13%