Research Results

Beta Version

Use the search bar below to find studies, or apply one or more filters to narrow your results. See our list of keywords to guide your search.

Search by keyword

Try these: air pollutionalcoholbisphenolshormonespersonal care productspesticidesplastic

Filter by Risk Factors
Filter by Protective Factors
Filter by Exposure Sources
Filter by Chemical Classes

Sort By

  • Relevance
  • Title (A to Z)
  • Title (Z to A)
  • Publication Year (Ascending)
  • Publication Year (Descending)
  • Authors (A to Z)
  • Authors (Z to A)

Health of greenspace workers: Morbidity and mortality data from the AGRICAN cohort.

de Graaf et al,

2022

Environ Res

A study of 6,247 greenspace workers (landscapers, gardeners, groundskeepers) from the French AGRICAN cohort found significantly elevated cancer risks compared to farmers and non-agricultural workers. Male greenspace workers showed 15% higher overall cancer incidence, with particularly elevated risks for prostate cancer (21% increase), thyroid cancer (184% increase), testicular cancer (298% increase), and skin melanoma (115% increase), while female greenspace workers had a 71% increased risk of breast cancer. The study also found that greenspace workers reported more allergic diseases and, among males, more depression compared to other occupational groups. These findings highlight that greenspace workers face distinct occupational health risks, likely related to pesticide exposure and other workplace hazards, and should be studied separately from agricultural workers rather than being grouped together in research.

Exposure to organophosphorus insecticides and increased risks of health and cancer in US women.

Sun et al,

2020

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol

This analysis of US health data from 2003-2012 found that women with higher long-term exposure to organophosphorus insecticides (common pesticides measured through urine samples) faced significantly elevated health risks, including three times higher risk of cardiovascular disease and 2.7 times higher overall cancer risk among women aged 60-85. Women with higher pesticide exposure also showed increased risks of asthma in younger age groups and chronic bronchitis in older age, with breast cancer risk elevated among female smokers and prostate cancer risk elevated among male smokers. These findings suggest that chronic exposure to these widely-used agricultural pesticides may pose greater health threats to women than men, particularly for cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Exploring the reproductive exposure risks of phthalates and organophosphates in atmospheric particulate matter based on quantitative structure-activity relationships and network toxicology models.

Gao et al,

2025

J Hazard Mater

This study used advanced computer modeling to assess the combined reproductive health risks of phthalates (PAEs) and organophosphates (OPEs) found in atmospheric particles, focusing on their ability to disrupt hormone receptors. The researchers found that the mixed toxicity of these compounds was lower than expected from individual effects, suggesting they may interfere with each other’s toxic actions through antagonistic effects. Using network analysis and molecular modeling, they identified 590 potential targets and 50 core targets (including hormone receptors) affected by these pollutants, with DEHP, TPHP, and MEHP being key disruptors of hormone signaling pathways. The study also identified two previously overlooked targets (AKT1 and HSP90AA1) that may be important for reproductive toxicity, providing new insights into how these atmospheric pollutants may affect human reproductive health.

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides as a predictor to breast cancer: A case-control study among Ethiopian women.

Mekonen et al,

2021

PLOS One

A case-control study in Ethiopia examined 50 breast cancer patients and 50 controls to investigate whether exposure to organochlorine pesticides is a risk factor for breast cancer in a low- and middle-income country context. Ten organochlorine pesticides were detected in participants’ serum, with heptachlor found at highest concentrations; mean serum levels of p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDT, heptachlor, gamma-chlordane, endosulfan, and dibutyl-chlorendate were significantly higher in breast cancer patients than controls, and p,p’-DDT and gamma-chlordane emerged as significant predictors of breast cancer, with each unit increase in p,p’-DDT concentration doubling breast cancer odds (AOR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.04-3.97) and each unit increase in gamma-chlordane tripling the odds (AOR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.19-8.20). These findings suggest that organochlorine pesticide exposure may be a significant breast cancer risk factor in Ethiopia, where environmental contamination from these persistent organic pollutants remains a concern despite global restrictions. The study highlights the public health importance of reducing exposure to these banned or restricted pesticides in developing countries and emphasizes the need for continuous biomonitoring of persistent organic pollutants to inform disease prevention strategies and mitigation measures, particularly as breast cancer incidence rises in low- and middle-income countries where environmental regulation may be less stringent.

Signs of carcinogenicity induced by parathion, malathion, and estrogen in human breast epithelial cells (Review).

Calaf et al,

2021

Oncol Rep

A review of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs)—among the most commonly used insecticides—and their association with hormone-mediated cancer found that OPs combined with estrogen induce transformation events in human breast epithelial cells, with in vitro studies showing these substances cause genomic instability through inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes and activation of oncogenes. Studies using immortalized non-tumorigenic human breast epithelial cell lines (MCF-10F) demonstrated that OPs like malathion and parathion, particularly in the presence of estrogen, affect cell cycle regulation, epidermal growth factor signaling pathways, drug metabolism, and genomic stability, leading to cellular transformation and signs of carcinogenesis. The findings suggest hormone-mediated carcinogenic effects of these widely used insecticides on breast cancer risk in women, with experimental models revealing the multistep process by which normal breast cells transform into malignant ones through combined exposure to environmental pesticides and estrogen, providing mechanistic insights into how occupational and environmental OP exposure may contribute to breast cancer development.

Agricultural Exposures and Breast Cancer Among Latina in the San Joaquin Valley of California.

Mills et al,

2019

J Occup Environ Med

This case control study was conducted among Hispanic women agricultural workers who are exposed to pesticides. Chemicals associated with BC risk included organophosphates, organochlorines, and a phthalimide, Captan. The study concluded that agricultural work may be associated with increased BC risk in female Hispanic farm workers.

No results found.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Share This