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PVC workers & increased testicular
cancer
Ohlson, C., Hardell, L., 2000.
Testicular cancer and occupational exposures
with a focus on xenoestrogens in polyvinyl chloride plastics.
Chemosphere 40(9-11):1277-82
In a case-control study of 148 cases of testicular cancer and
314 healthy controls information was collected on lifetime working
histories and specific exposures. The main finding was a six-fold
increase in the risk for seminoma, one type of testicular cancer,
among plastic workers exposed to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). No
overrisks were observed for other plastics than PVC. There may
be an aetiological link to xenoestrogens, i.e. chemicals in the
environment with oestrogenic properties. Phthalates are used in
PVC as plasticizer and have oestrogenic properties that could
promote the growth of endocrine sensitive tumour cells. However,
this "endocrine disruptors" hypothesis must be further
evaluated in experimental models with regard to the causative
mechanisms of the oestrogenic tumour promotion.
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