American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Exposure to Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and the Risk of Prostate and Ovarian Cancer: An Epidemiologic Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACTBackgroundPer‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants. Previous research has linked PFAS exposure to prostate and ovarian cancer risk, however, the conclusions have been inconsistent. This research purpose was to determine the relationship between PFAS exposure and prostate and ovarian cancer at the population level.MethodsWe systematically reviewed three databases—PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase—for research from when these databases were established to April 15, 2024. The quality of the retrieved research was evaluated using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) quality measurement tool. Meta‐analysis of the extracted data was conducted using Stata 18. We also conducted sensitivity and subgroup analyses, as well as Begg's and Egger's tests.ResultsTwelve publications were involved in the analysis for prostate cancer, and six were included for ovary cancer. The outcomes indicated that PFOS exposure was positively related to prostate cancer (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.00–1.28), while mixed PFAS exposure was positively related to ovarian cancer (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.49–1.78). The source of heterogeneity identified in the subgroup analysis was primarily attributable to variations in study design. No significant study bias was detected in the analysis.ConclusionThe study demonstrated an association between PFAS exposure and both prostate and ovarian cancers. Further investigation is required to clarify the underlying mechanisms and potential associations.

Cause specific mortality in an Italian pool of asbestos workers cohorts

AbstractBackgroundAsbestos is a known human carcinogen and is causally associated with malignant mesothelioma, lung, larynx and ovarian cancers.MethodsCancer risk was studied among a pool of formerly asbestos‐exposed workers in Italy. Fifty‐two Italian asbestos cohorts (asbestos‐cement, rolling‐stock, shipbuilding, and other) were pooled and their mortality follow‐up was updated to 2018. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed for major causes of death considering duration of exposure and time since first exposure (TSFE), using reference rates by region, age and calendar period.ResultsThe study included 63,502 subjects (57,156 men and 6346 women): 40% who were alive, 58% who died (cause known for 92%), and 2% lost to follow‐up. Mortality was increased for all causes (SMR: men = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03−1.05; women = 1.15, 95% CI 1.11−1.18), all malignancies (SMR: men = 1.21, 95% CI 1.18−1.23; women = 1.29, 95% CI 1.22−1.37), pleural and peritoneal malignancies (men: SMR = 10.46, 95% CI 9.86−11.09 and 4.29, 95% CI 3.66−5.00; women: SMR = 27.13, 95% CI 23.29−31.42 and 7.51, 95% CI 5.52−9.98), lung (SMR: men = 1.28, 95% CI 1.24−1.32; women = 1.26, 95% CI 1.02−1.53), and ovarian cancer (SMR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.08−1.84). Pleural cancer mortality increased during the first 40 years of TSFE (latency), reaching a plateau thereafter.ConclusionsAnalyses by time‐dependent variables showed that the risk for pleural neoplasms increased with latency and no longer increases at long TSFE, consistent with with asbestos clearance from the lungs. Peritoneal neoplasm risk increased over all observation time.