Occupational exposure to potential endocrine disruptors: further development of a job exposure matrix

Abstract

Despite some important limitations, this JEM could be a valuable tool for exposure assessment in studies on the health risks of endocrine disruptors, especially when task specific information is incorporated. The documented exposure scenarios are meant to facilitate further adjustments to the JEM to allow more widespread use.

Occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the risk of uveal melanoma

“…Most JEM may have difficulties assessing exposures that may vary largely in-between individual workplaces and over time (23). Furthermore, the selection of possible EDC from reported exposures and work activities in this study was facilitated by our own experiences in designing a JEM with individual expert ratings on EDC exposure in the automobile industry (6) and by the availability of a community-based JEM from the UK focusing on exposure to EDC (4,5). By excluding next-of-kin or other surrogate interviews, we further increased the specificity of exposure assessment in these analyses.…”

“…Anti-estrogenic effects (brominated flame retardants and PAH), estrogenic effects (bisphenol A, some pesticides, alkyl phenols, and some organic solvents) (4,25), as well as anti-androgenic effects (phthalates, glycol ethers, PCB, and other pesticides) (4, 26) have been described in the literature. In this study, exposure to organic solvents was the only EDC implying an elevated risk for uveal melanoma, although results were not statistically significant (OR 2 1.31, 95% CI 0.78-2.21).…”

“…Possible mechanisms of EDC include mimicking of hormonal effects, antagonization of hormone receptors, disturbance of hormonal synthesis pathways, or other interferences with hormonal function. Research groups, including our own, attempted to classify occupational exposure to several EDC in job-exposure matrices (JEM) for community-or industry-based settings (4)(5)(6).…”

Maternal occupation during pregnancy, birth weight, and length of gestation: combined analysis of 13 European birth cohorts

“…This collaborative project represents a first step towards carrying out further analyses such as the application of job exposure matrices, which would allow us to assign specific occupational exposures of interest, to a whole range of job titles in population based studies (37,38).…”

Risk of cryptorchidism and hypospadias among boys of maternal hairdressers – a Danish population-based cohort study

“…These compounds include hexane, benzene, toluene and metoxypropanol and endocrine-disruptive chemicals (EDC) (eg, alkylphenolic compounds and phthalates) (4)(5)(6). EDC exposures have shown associations with the genital diseases cryptorchidism (incomplete testicular descent) and hypospadias (displacement of the urethral opening along the ventral shaft of the penis) (7,8).…”