Testicular cancer and occupational exposures with a focus on xenoestrogensin polyvinyl chloride plastics

In a case-control study of 148 cases of testicular cancer and 314 healthy c ontrols information was collected on lifetime working histories and specifi c exposures. The main finding was a six-fold increase in the risk for semin oma, one type of testicular cancer, among plastic workers exposed to polyvi nyl 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 plas ticizer and have oestrogenic properties that could promote the growth of en docrine sensitive tumour cells. However, this "endocrine disruptors" hypoth esis must be further evaluated in experimental models with regard to the ca usative mechanisms of the oestrogenic tumour promotion. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.