Organochlorine pesticide exposure as a risk factor for breast cancer in young Indian women: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Incidence rates of breast cancer are showing an increasing trend in young women (≤40 years) in India. Risk for breast cancer in this age group can be attributed only partially to various known risk factors. Environmental exposure to organochlorine (OC) compounds has been identified as a potential risk factor. However, the possible role of OC compounds in increasing breast cancer risk in young women has not been explored. This case-control study was planned with the objectives to assess the serum levels of OC compound in a North Indian population of young women.

Materials and methods: Forty-two patients of breast cancer ≤ 40 years age and 42 age-matched controls were evaluated for exposure to OC compounds by performing assays in blood samples for pesticides such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites DDD and DDE; dieldrin; aldrin; methoxychlor, heptachlor; α-endosulfan; β-endosulfan; and hexachlorocyclohexane and its isomers (α, β, and γ).

Results: Young women with breast cancer were found to have significantly higher serum levels of all the OC compounds except aldrin, p, p' DDT, and methoxychlor.

Conclusions: Exposure to OC pesticides could be an important modifiable risk factor for breast cancer, especially in younger women.

Keywords: Breast cancer; organochlorine compounds; risk factors; young women.