Exposure to p-dichlorobenzene and prevalent endocrine-related reproductive cancers among US women.

Abstract

P-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) is a pest repellent and air deodorant that is commonly found in the household and public buildings. Exposure to p-DCB has been suggested to have potential metabolic and endocrine effects. Little is known about its association with endocrine-related female cancers. In this cross-sectional study, a nationally representative subsample of 4459 women, aged 20 years or older, in the 2003-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed for the association between p-DCB exposure, measured as urinary concentrations of 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), the primary metabolite of p-DCB, and prevalent endocrine-related female cancers (defined as breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers) using multivariate logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. Of the study participants, 202 women (weighted prevalence, 4.20%) reported being diagnosed with any of these endocrine-related reproductive cancers. Women with reproductive cancers showed a statistically significant increase in urinary 2,5-DCP concentrations (weighted geometric mean, 7.97 vs. 5.84 µg/g creatinine; p < 0.0001), compared to women without these cancers. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that women in the moderate (1.94- < 28.10 µg/g creatinine) and high level (≥ 28.10 µg/g creatinine) of 2,5-DCP had significantly increased odds of endocrine-related reproductive cancers (odds ratio of 1.66 (95% CI: 1.02, 2.71) and 1.89 (1.08, 3.29), respectively), as compared with those in the low exposure group (< 1.94 µg/g creatinine). This study demonstrates a potential relation between p-DCB exposure and prevalent endocrine-related reproductive cancers in US women. Prospective and mechanistic studies would further explore these interactions and elucidate the pathogenesis of endocrine-related female cancers potentially associated with p-DCB exposure.

• Authors: Georgia Wilson Pridgen, Jianmin Zhu, Yudan Wei
• Journal: Environmental science and pollution research international (Environ Sci Pollut Res Int) Vol. 30 Issue 32 Pg. 78324-78331 (Jul 2023) ISSN: 1614-7499 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 37269516 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Chemical References

• 4-dichlorobenzene
• Chlorophenols
• Creatinine

Topics

• Humans
• Female
• Chlorophenols
• Creatinine
• Nutrition Surveys
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Prospective Studies
• Neoplasms