A1709 Are endocrine disrupting compounds risk factors for large bowel adenocarcinoma?

Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Ground Floor (Cancun Center)
Linda Kaerlev, Centre for National Clinical Databases, South, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark
Michelle Fog Andersen, Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
Sandra Jensen, Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
Handouts
  • Poster som PP.pdf (3.5 MB)
    • Introduction
    Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as certain organic solvents, pesticides, and PCBs are exogenous substances that can affect the natural hormone balance and are a suspected cause of carcinogenesis in the human organism. This study investigated the association between occupational exposure to EDC (pesticides and hormones) and the development of colon cancer. 

    Methods
    A case-control study of 254 histologically confirmed colon cancer cases (59%) and 320 matched population controls (55%) was conducted between 1995-1997 in Denmark as part of a European multi-center study. The participants had been interviewed by trained interviewers about socio-demographical aspects and exposure to EDCs using a standardized questionnaire. We obtained odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) by multiple logistic regression and adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol, BMI and with regard to women hormone-replacement therapy and oral contraceptives. 

    Results
    After adjustment for relevant confounders, the OR for ever being occupationally exposed to pesticides was 0,56 (95% CI 0.28-1.11). Subsequently, pesticides were divided into three subgroups: fungicides resulted in an OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.13-1.12), herbicides OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.16-0.95) and insecticides OR 0.41 (95% CI 0.16-1.04). Occupational exposure to hormones showed a similar association with an OR 0.84 (95% CI 0.39-1.81). 

    Discussion
    The data showed a negative association between exposure to pesticides and hormones in the workplace and the risk of colon cancer. Most of the results were non-significant due to a small number of cases. However, several confounders were considered and if possible adjusted for, colon cancer cases were histological verified, all factors contributing to a high validity of the study. Unfortunately we were not able to adjust for other lifestyle factors or level of physical activity. The findings must be interpreted with caution. Even though we found an inverse relationship between EDC’s and colon cancer, the topic warrants further investigation.

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