Impact des pesticides perturbateurs endocriniens sur le cancer du sein

Abstract

Of the 800 pesticides used worldwide, about 650 can affect the functioning of the endocrine system: endocrine disrupting pesticides (EDPs). Dietary or environmental exposure to EDPs is a concern, as their presence is currently demonstrated in most biological fluids. Some EDPs are prohibited, classified as carcinogenic, others are “probable” or “possible” carcinogens when there is limited evidence of their tumor effect. The impact of EDPs on breasts is not well known to date. However, since most EDPs have a long half-life and are lipophilic, breasts, composed mainly of adipose tissue, are a suitable site for their concentration. The objective of our review was to analyze the impact of EDPs related to our environmental exposure on breast cancer risk, through an analysis of recent literature, including epidemiological and biological data. Our review showed a positive association between the presence of EDPs and breast cancer, especially among women farmers or EDPs users but also in the general population. Studies on breast tumors have found a higher concentration of EDPs in estrogen-sensitive tumors. As for mortality, studies are contradictory, but confirm the dangerousness of some EDPs. The different series analyzed have several limitations, such as the low number of EDPs evaluated, small numbers and insufficient follow up. The potentiating effect of different EDPs used concomitantly and the window of exposure to these substances are parameters to be assessed.