Occupational risk factors for breast cancer in the epidemiological studies
Pepłońska, B.; Szeszenia-Dabrowska, N.
Medycyna Pracy 52(6): 483-495
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0465-5893 PMID: 11928680 Document Number: 529645
The paper reviews data on the occupational risk factors, which role in the etiology of breast cancer in women has been analyzed and estimated in the epidemiological studies. The results of the studies are presented and discussed. An increased incidence or risk of death from breast cancer was observed in some studies among teachers, nurses and physicians, managerial occupations, beauticians and hairdressers, chemists, telephone and telegraph operators, workers of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Some epidemiological studies indicate that breast cancer incidence might be related to occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields, ionizing radiation, low physical activity, organic solvents, selected pesticides. However, owing to inconsistency of the study results and methodological weaknesses (imprecise classification of exposure, low response rate, uncontrolled confounding) no definite conclusion can be drawn.