Testicular cancer and occupational exposures with a focus on xenoestrogens in polyvinyl chloride plastics

• Published in: Chemosphere Vol. 40; no. 9-11; pp. 1277 - 1282
• Main Authors: Ohlson, C G, Hardell, L
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.05.2000
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Environmental Exposure; estrogens; Estrogens - poisoning; Humans; Industrial Waste; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Odds Ratio; Phthalic Acids - poisoning; polyvinyl chloride; Polyvinyl Chloride - analysis; Polyvinyl Chloride - poisoning; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Seminoma - chemically induced; testes; Testicular Neoplasms - chemically induced; Urban Population; Xenobiotics; xenoestrogens
• ISSN: 0045-6535
• DOI: 10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00380-X

In a case-control study of 148 cases of testicular cancer and 314 healthy controls information was collected on lifetime working histories and specific exposures. The main finding was a six-fold increase in the risk for seminoma, one type of testicular cancer, among plastic workers exposed to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). No overrisks were observed for other plastics than PVC. There may be an aetiological link to xenoestrogens, i.e. chemicals in the environment with oestrogenic properties. Phthalates are used in PVC as plasticizer and have oestrogenic properties that could promote the growth of endocrine sensitive tumour cells. However, this "endocrine disruptors" hypothesis must be further evaluated in experimental models with regard to the causative mechanisms of the oestrogenic tumour promotion.