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Occupational exposure to metalworking fluids and risk of breast cancer among female autoworkers
Author(s) -
Thompson Deborah,
Kriebel David,
Quinn Margaret M.,
Wegman David H.,
Eisen Ellen A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20132
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , odds ratio , cancer , case control study , cohort study , cohort , oncology , gynecology
Background Metalworking fluids (MWF) are used for lubrication during metal manufacturing. Previous studies have observed increased risks of several cancers among MWF‐exposed workers. We hypothesized that MWF may be associated with risk of breast cancer because they can contain carcinogenic or endocrine‐disrupting chemicals. Methods We conducted a case‐control study nested in a cohort of 4,680 female automobile workers employed for at least 3 years between 1/1/41 and 1/1/85, with follow‐up through 1994. Cases were identified using the National Death Index (NDI), Michigan cancer registries, and company records. Detailed quantitative MWF exposure data were available for each subject, although data on known breast cancer risk factors were not. Results Ninety‐nine cases of breast cancer and 626 matched controls were identified. There was a weak positive association between lifetime cumulative exposure to soluble MWF and breast cancer risk, but no evidence of association with either straight or synthetic fluids. When exposure was divided into time‐windows, the association was strongest for soluble MWF in the decade preceding diagnosis. Controlling for earlier exposures, there was an odds ratio of 1.18 (95% CI = 1.02–1.35) per mg/m 3 ‐year of cumulative exposure to soluble MWF in this 10‐year period. Conclusion This hypothesis‐generating study provides some preliminary evidence for an association between exposure to soluble MWF and increased risk of breast cancer. Additional studies of MWF and breast cancer, with data on known breast cancer risk factors, are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:153–160, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.