Environmental Exposures at Birth and at Menarche and Risk of Breast Cancer
Abstract
This population-based study examines early life exposure to environmental pollutants from industrial sites, toxic waste sites and heavily trafficked roadways as risk factors for breast cancer; with a focus on exposure to benzene and phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAHs). We have geocoded 15,340 individual addresses for 3,286 participants in Erie and Niagara counties in New York State. A validation study assessed the positional accuracy of addresses geocoded on the Dynamap2000 using a global positioning system receiver. Overall, geocoding was accurate. Analyses have been completed examining residential proximity to industrial sites contracting with the US Atomic Energy Commission (USAEC), for exposure to total suspended particulates (TSP), and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and breast cancer risk. Proximity to sites contracted by USAEC was not associated with risk. Exposure to TSP in early life was associated with a 2.75-fold increase in risk for postmenopausal women only. There was little evidence of an association between early life exposure to ETS and breast cancer. Clustering analyses identified geographic patterns of residence for breast cancer cases and controls at critical time periods in early life. These results provide evidence that environmental exposures in early life may be important for breast cancer risk.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA427958
Entities
People
- Jo L Freudenheim
Organizations
- University at Buffalo