Cancer incidence and mortality in women occupationally exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, and dioxins.

The association between exposure to chlorophenoxy herbicides contaminated with dioxins and occurrence of cancer has been studied mainly in male populations. In animal experiments, gender differences have been recorded in the cancer response to administered 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Mortality and cancer incidence in an international cohort of 701 women from an International Register of Workers occupationally exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, and dioxins is examined. Cause-specific, national death rates and cancer incidence rates were used as referents. Cancer risk was not increased overall, with a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 96 and 95 percent confidence interval (CI) of 64-137, based on 29 cases. Among workers exposed to those chlorophenoxy herbicides contaminated with TCDD, excess cancer incidence (for all sites) was observed (SIR = 222, CI = 102-422, 9 cases); this was highest in the first 10 years after exposure. No excess was observed for breast cancer, the most common cancer in this cohort. Results on cancer mortality were consistent with those on incidence.