Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of breast (females), prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancer in the Italian National Priority Contaminated Sites (NPCSs), served by cancer registries, where the presence of endocrine disruptors (EDs), reported to be linked to these tumours, was documented. Evidence of carcinogenicity of EDs present in NPCSs was assessed based on evaluation by international scientific institutions and committees. Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) were computed for each NPCS and cancer site between 1996 and 2005. Excess incidence of one or more cancer site studied was found in twelve out of fourteen NPCSs. Significantly increased SIRs were found for breast cancer in eight NPCSs, for prostate cancer in six, for thyroid cancer (both gender) in four, and for testicular cancer in two. Non-significantly increased SIRs were found in five NPCSs for testicular cancer and in two for thyroid cancer (males). In a small number of instances a significant deficit was reported, mainly for thyroid and prostate cancer. Although increased incidence of one or more cancer sites studied were found in several NPCSs, the ecological study design and the multifactorial aetiology of the considered tumours do not permit concluding causal links with environmental contamination. Regarding the observation of some excesses in SIRs, continuing epidemiological surveillance is warranted.
Highlights
Over the past decade, in industrialized countries served by cancer registries, an increased incidence of breast, prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancer has been observed [1,2]
The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of breast, prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancer in the Italian National Priority Contaminated Sites (NPCSs), served by cancer registries, where the presence of endocrine disruptors (EDs) linked to these tumours was reported
Information on the characterization of the NPCSs with respect to the presence of major sources of pollution is reported in Table 2, together with the indication of the EDs of interest detected in the environmental matrices, human biomonitoring data, and food monitoring data
Summary
In industrialized countries served by cancer registries, an increased incidence of breast, prostate, testicular, and thyroid cancer has been observed [1,2]. The increase in incidence of endocrine-related cancers in humans cannot be explained solely in terms of genetics, better diagnosis, or life style. It is believed that the increase may be partially related to environmental chemical exposure, some of which have endocrine disrupting properties [2]. An endocrine disruptor (ED) is commonly defined as an exogenous substance or mixture that interferes with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones, and which causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny, or (sub)population [2,3]. Many chemicals have been identified as endocrine disruptors, and humans can be exposed to them either due to their occupation, through dietary and environmental exposure, or both [5]. The best-characterized chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties considered to be involved in cancer aetiology include dioxins, dioxin-like compounds, furans, Int. J. Public Health 2017, 14, 355; doi:10.3390/ijerph14040355 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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