Janet M Gray1, Sharima Rasanayagam2, Connie Engel2, Jeanne Rizzo2. 1. Department of Psychology and Program in Science, Technology, and Society, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12604-0246, USA. grayj@vassar.edu. 2. Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, 1388 Sutter St., Suite 400, San Francisco, CA, 94109-5400, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In this review, we examine the continually expanding and increasingly compelling data linking radiation and various chemicals in our environment to the current high incidence of breast cancer. Singly and in combination, these toxicants may have contributed significantly to the increasing rates of breast cancer observed over the past several decades. Exposures early in development from gestation through adolescence and early adulthood are particularly of concern as they re-shape the program of genetic, epigenetic and physiological processes in the developing mammary system, leading to an increased risk for developing breast cancer. In the 8 years since we last published a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, hundreds of new papers have appeared supporting this link, and in this update, the evidence on this topic is more extensive and of better quality than that previously available. CONCLUSION: Increasing evidence from epidemiological studies, as well as a better understanding of mechanisms linking toxicants with development of breast cancer, all reinforce the conclusion that exposures to these substances - many of which are found in common, everyday products and byproducts - may lead to increased risk of developing breast cancer. Moving forward, attention to methodological limitations, especially in relevant epidemiological and animal models, will need to be addressed to allow clearer and more direct connections to be evaluated.
BACKGROUND: In this review, we examine the continually expanding and increasingly compelling data linking radiation and various chemicals in our environment to the current high incidence of breast cancer. Singly and in combination, these toxicants may have contributed significantly to the increasing rates of breast cancer observed over the past several decades. Exposures early in development from gestation through adolescence and early adulthood are particularly of concern as they re-shape the program of genetic, epigenetic and physiological processes in the developing mammary system, leading to an increased risk for developing breast cancer. In the 8 years since we last published a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, hundreds of new papers have appeared supporting this link, and in this update, the evidence on this topic is more extensive and of better quality than that previously available. CONCLUSION: Increasing evidence from epidemiological studies, as well as a better understanding of mechanisms linking toxicants with development of breast cancer, all reinforce the conclusion that exposures to these substances - many of which are found in common, everyday products and byproducts - may lead to increased risk of developing breast cancer. Moving forward, attention to methodological limitations, especially in relevant epidemiological and animal models, will need to be addressed to allow clearer and more direct connections to be evaluated.
Authors: C Dechanet; T Anahory; J C Mathieu Daude; X Quantin; L Reyftmann; S Hamamah; B Hedon; H Dechaud Journal: Hum Reprod Update Date: 2010-08-04 Impact factor: 15.610
Authors: M Schlumpf; B Cotton; M Conscience; V Haller; B Steinmann; W Lichtensteiger Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2001-03 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: L Titus-Ernstoff; E E Hatch; R N Hoover; J Palmer; E R Greenberg; W Ricker; R Kaufman; K Noller; A L Herbst; T Colton; P Hartge Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2001-01-05 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Mildred Maisonet; Antonia M Calafat; Michele Marcus; Jouni J K Jaakkola; Hany Lashen Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2015-06-02 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Humberto Parada; Marilie D Gammon; Hope L Ettore; Jia Chen; Antonia M Calafat; Alfred I Neugut; Regina M Santella; Mary S Wolff; Susan L Teitelbaum Journal: Environ Int Date: 2019-06-19 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Brooks Yelton; Heather M Brandt; Swann Arp Adams; John R Ureda; Jamie R Lead; Delores Fedrick; Kaleea Lewis; Shibani Kulkarni; Daniela B Friedman Journal: Int Q Community Health Educ Date: 2020-07-13
Authors: Trang VoPham; Kimberly A Bertrand; Rena R Jones; Nicole C Deziel; Natalie C DuPré; Peter James; Ying Liu; Verónica M Vieira; Rulla M Tamimi; Jaime E Hart; Mary H Ward; Francine Laden Journal: Environ Res Date: 2020-04-13 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: Susan Hurley; Debbie Goldberg; June-Soo Park; Myrto Petreas; Leslie Bernstein; Hoda Anton-Culver; Susan L Neuhausen; David O Nelson; Peggy Reynolds Journal: Environ Int Date: 2019-04-05 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Inger T Gram; Song-Yi Park; Gertraud Maskarinec; Lynne R Wilkens; Christopher A Haiman; Loïc Le Marchand Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2019-04-01 Impact factor: 7.196