Newswise — A case-control study published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine discovered that specific job positions, such as hairstylists, cosmetologists, and auditors, may be linked to an increased susceptibility to ovarian cancer.
The findings suggest that individuals employed in sales, retail, fashion, and construction industries could also be at risk. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential significance of prolonged exposure to specific substances like talcum powder, ammonia, propellant gases, petrol, and bleaches.
The researchers emphasize that only a limited number of modifiable risk factors for ovarian cancer have been identified. While environmental factors, including those linked to the workplace, may heighten the risk, there have been relatively few studies assessing the occupational hazards encountered by women.
Moreover, the few studies that have been conducted often overlook potentially influential factors, neglect previous employment history, or involve a small number of participants, thereby limiting the scope and reliability of the findings.
In an effort to mitigate these issues, the researchers utilized lifetime employment records obtained from a population-based case-control study. This allowed them to conduct an exploratory analysis focusing on two aspects of the workplace environment: employment in specific roles or industries and exposure to particular occupational hazards. By taking this approach, they aimed to address the limitations and gain a deeper understanding of the potential associations.
The PRevention of OVArian Cancer in Quebec (PROVAQ) study enlisted individuals, ranging in age from 18 to 79, who were selected from seven Montreal hospitals during the period of 2010 to 2016 subsequent to their diagnosis with epithelial ovarian cancer.
Altogether, 491 eligible women meeting the study's criteria were paired by age and electoral roll district with 897 women who were free of ovarian cancer.
Data was gathered from all participants regarding their sociodemographic background, medical history, prescribed medications, reproductive history, weight and height, lifestyle factors, and lifetime employment history.
A higher proportion of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer exhibited lower educational attainment, shorter duration of oral contraceptive use, and either no or fewer children compared to women in the control group. These factors are considered potential risk factors for the development of the disease.
For every job that was held for a minimum of six months, participants provided information on the job title, start and end dates, working hours (including any shift work), and the main tasks performed during that employment period.
Cumulative length of employment in a job or industry was then categorised as never, less than 10 years, and 10 or more years.
The Canadian job-exposure matrix (CANJEM) was utilized to determine the participants' exposure to specific agents present in their workplace. The study subsequently examined the relationship between exposure to each of the 29 most prevalent agents and the risk of ovarian cancer.
After accounting for potentially influential factors, the calculations indicated that several job roles may be linked to a heightened risk of the disease.
Particularly, individuals who had worked for 10 or more years in professions such as hairdressing, barbering, beautician, and related roles were found to have a three-fold higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. Similarly, those who had been employed in accounting for 10 or more years exhibited a doubling in risk, while individuals working in the construction industry showed a nearly three-fold increase in risk.
Likewise, extended employment in the clothing industry, including embroidery, was linked to an 85% increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Additionally, working in sales or retail was associated with respective heightened risks of 45% and 59% for the disease.
Significant increased risks exceeding 40% were identified for high cumulative exposure (8 or more years) to 18 specific agents. These agents encompassed talcum powder, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, hair dust, synthetic fibers, polyester fibers, organic dyes and pigments, cellulose, formaldehyde, propellant gases, as well as naturally occurring chemicals in petrol and bleaches.
Hairdressers, beauticians, and related workers were found to be the professions most commonly exposed to 13 different agents, which include ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, organic dyes and pigments, and bleaches. Additionally, they ranked as the second most frequently exposed occupation to talcum powder.
It’s not clear, however, if these associations were driven by a single agent, a combination, or other workplace factors, say the researchers.
The researchers acknowledged that the numbers of women employed in specific occupations such as paper, printing, textile production, dry cleaning, and manufacturing were relatively small. Similarly, the number of women exposed to specific agents, including asbestos and pesticides, which were previously identified as potential risk factors for ovarian cancer, was also limited.
The researchers noted that certain statistically significant associations observed in the study might be attributed to chance, considering the number of analyses conducted. They emphasized the need for further studies to replicate the findings in order to establish their validity and reliability.
Despite the limitations and the possibility of chance findings, the researchers ultimately conclude that their results indicate a suggestive association between employment in certain occupations and specific occupational exposures, and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
In a linked commentary, Drs Melissa Friesen and Laura Beane Freeman from the US National Cancer Institute emphasize that the current study serves as a reminder of the long-standing recognition of the underrepresentation of women in occupational cancer studies. They further highlight the need for improvement in investigating and addressing women's occupational risks in order to enhance our understanding of the subject.
The conclusion drawn by Drs Melissa Friesen and Laura Beane Freeman in their linked commentary is that by excluding women from occupational cancer studies, there is a missed opportunity to identify risk factors specifically related to female cancers. They argue that the evaluation of sex-specific differences in risk and the examination of exposures prevalent in occupations predominantly held by women are crucial aspects that should not be overlooked.
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