Estrogenic organochlorines & breast cancer survival Hoyer, A., Jorgensen, T., Brock, J., Grandjean, P. Abstract Recent research suggests that exposure to organochlorines, such as dieldrin that possess estrogenic properties, may increase the risk of breast cancer by promoting growth of malignant cells. Whether this potential also affects malignant cells not eradicated by treatment, and thereby survival, is unknown. To evaluate this blood samples from female participants in the Copenhagen City Heart Study, Denmark, were analyzed for organochlorines. A total of 195 breast cancer cases, who each provided two blood samples that were taken in 1976-78 and 1981-83, respectively, were included in the survival analysis. Dieldrin had a significant adverse effect on overall survival and breast cancer specific survival (RR, 2.78, 95% CI, 1.38-5.59, P trend < 0.01; RR, 2.61, 95% CI, 0.97-7.01, P trend <0.01). This association was strengthened when exposure was assessed as the average serum concentration of the two measurements. These findings suggest that past exposure to estrogenic organochlorines such as dieldrin may not only affect the risk of developing breast cancer but also the survival. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 53: 323-330, 2000 (Aldrin, dieldrin and endrin are closely related organochlorine insecticides that are extremely persistent in the environment. Aldrin has been used as a soil insecticide to control root worms, beetles, and termites. Dieldrin has been used in agriculture for soil and seed treatment as well as for control of mosquitoes and tsetse flies. Other uses for dieldrin include veterinary treatments for sheep, wood treatment against termites, and mothproofing of woolen products. Endrin has been used as an agricultural insecticide on tobacco, apple trees, cotton, sugar cane, and grain, as well as to control rodents and birds. Dieldrin is still used to control termites. Dieldrin, aldrin, and endrin enter the environment when they are used as pesticides. When used in agriculture, the chemicals can enter the soil, wash into nearby surface water, or volatize in air. Once in the environment, they can accumulate in living organisms. The chemicals are also used for termite control in home settings, and can enter soil, water and air in those circumstances as well. In both plants and animals, aldrin quickly converts to dieldrin. In soil and water, aldrin's conversion to dieldrin is aided by sunlight and bacteria. Once present in soil or water, dieldrin breaks down very slowly, does not easily evaporate into the air and can bind very tightly to soil particles. Plants take up aldrin and dieldrin residues directly from the soil. In animals, including humans, dieldrin is stored in the fat and leaves the body very slowly. Endrin also accumulates in soil and water. In water, it does not dissolve, but instead binds strongly to sediment and soil particles. In soil, endrin can persist for as long as ten years. The extent of endrin's persistence depends somewhat on local climate conditions - high temperatures or intense light can cause endrin to break down more rapidly. Humans can be exposed to aldrin, endrin, and dieldrin in a number of ways, but the chief avenue of exposure is by eating contaminated fish, poultry, beef, or other animal-derived food products, or food grown in treated soil. In countries where dieldrin is still used for termite control, household air may be a significant exposure pathway as well. http://www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/chem3.asp) Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.