Breast Cancer Risk Associated With Residential Proximity to Industrial Plants in Canada

Abstract

The relationship between breast cancer risk and residential proximity to paper mills, pulp mills, petroleum refineries, steel mills, thermal power plants, alum smelters, nickel smelters, lead smelters, copper smelters, and zinc smelters was assessed. We conducted a population-based case-control study of 2343 cases with breast cancer and 2467 controls using residential proximity at some time between 1960 and 5 years before the completion of questionnaire in Canada. Adjusted odds ratios were statistically significantly increased for residing near steel mills (0.8 to 3.2 km) and thermal power plants (<0.8 km) in premenopausal women, petroleum refinery (0.8 to 3.2 km) and pulp mills (0.8 to 3.2 km) in postmenopausal women, and for 10 or more years of residing near thermal power plants of 0.8 km. Our preliminary results suggested possible weak associations between breast cancer and proximity to steel mills, pulp mills, petroleum refineries, and thermal power plants.