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Case–control study of PCBs, other organochlorines and breast cancer in Eastern Slovakia

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 13, pages 267–275 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

This case–control study was designed to investigate association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and risk of breast cancer in an area of high environmental exposure in the Michalovce district of eastern Slovakia. Incident breast cancer cases from the Michalovce district diagnosed between May 1997 and May 1999 were recruited through the Oncology Department of the District Hospital. A total of 15 individual PCB congeners, 2,2′-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE), 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured in the serum of 24 breast cancer patients and 88 population controls in 1998–1999. The median levels of total PCBs were similar in cases (2586 ng/g of lipid) and controls (2682 ng/g of lipid). Higher serum levels (highest vs. lowest tertile) of total PCBs (odds ratio (OR)=0.42, 95% CI 0.10–1.82, p-for trend=0.31), group 1 congeners (OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.10–1.43, P-for trend=0.02), group 2 congeners (OR=0.32, 95% CI 0.07–1.56, P-for trend=0.60), and group 3 congeners (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.12–2.04, P-for trend=0.51) were inversely associated with risk of breast cancer. Higher serum levels of DDE (OR=3.04, 95% CI 0.65–14.3, P-for trend=0.10) were positively associated with risk of breast cancer, while there was no association for DDT (OR=1.19, 95% CI 0.27–5.23, P-for trend=0.68), and an inverse association for HCB (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.06–3.19, P-for trend=0.67). While generally not statistically significant, PCB and HCB levels were inversely associated with risk of breast cancer in this highly exposed population. DDE, but not DDT, was positively associated with risk.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Health (5 D43, TW/ES00621-04 Fogarty International Center) and NIEHS/NIH (P30 ES05605-Pilot), and by the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (No. 105/98-2.4). Dr. Cerhan was supported in part by a National Cancer Institute Preventive Oncology Award (K07 CA64220). We want to express our thanks to physicians, nurses and patients in the Michalovce and districts for participating in our study. We especially appreciate the assistance of Dr. Rudas and Dr. Madarova, the head of the Oncology Department of the District Hospital. We like to thank Dr. Wallace and Dr. Merchant at the University of Iowa for their support and guidance throughout the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas, Regional Campus, Dallas, Texas, USA

    Marian Pavuk

  2. Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA

    James R Cerhan

  3. Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA

    Charles F Lynch

  4. National Reference Center for Dioxins and Related Compounds, Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Anton Kocan, Jan Petrik & Jana Chovancova

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  1. Marian Pavuk
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Correspondence to Marian Pavuk.

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Pavuk, M., Cerhan, J., Lynch, C. et al. Case–control study of PCBs, other organochlorines and breast cancer in Eastern Slovakia. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 13, 267–275 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500277

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