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Breast cancer and persistent organic pollutants (excluding DDT): a systematic literature review

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Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a group of heterogeneous compounds of both natural and anthropogenic origin with highly persistent and bioaccumulative properties. They cause a range of adverse effects to human health and the environment around the world. There is growing concern that POPs may increase breast cancer risk due to their xenoestrogenic properties. The aim of this systematic literature review is to summarize and integrate the risks of breast cancer following environmental exposure to POPs (other than DDT) from primary epidemiological studies published between 2006 and 2015. After searching various databases, 14 case-control studies and one cohort study were included. Evidence of an association between increased breast cancer risk and environmental exposure to these chemicals is inconsistent and inadequate to conclude with certainty. However, most of the studies have examined exposure to the pollutants after diagnosis of breast cancer, overlooking exposure during critical windows of vulnerability. They have also largely focused on individual chemicals but ignored the combined effects of different chemicals. Therefore, major data gaps remain in examining exposure during critical windows of vulnerability and assessing combined effects of multiple chemicals. Development of better exposure assessment methods addressing these gaps is required for future research.

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Acknowledgments

LMLT is partly funded by an ARC DECRA (DE120100161).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Victoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia

    Tafzila Akter Mouly & Leisa-Maree Leontjew Toms

  2. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Leisa-Maree Leontjew Toms

Authors
  1. Tafzila Akter Mouly
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  2. Leisa-Maree Leontjew Toms
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Correspondence to Leisa-Maree Leontjew Toms.

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Mouly, T.A., Toms, LM.L. Breast cancer and persistent organic pollutants (excluding DDT): a systematic literature review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 22385–22407 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7577-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7577-1

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