Abstract
Introduction:
Investigations about the association between prostate cancer and environmental and/or occupational pesticide exposure have evidenced a possible role of these chemical substances on tumor etiology, related to their action as endocrine disruptors.
Objective:
To assess the association between pesticide exposure and prostate cancer by conducting a systematic review of the scientific literature.
Materials and methods:
Articles published until August 18, 2015 were searched in the databases MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scielo, and Lilacs using the keywords “pesticides” and “prostate cancer”. Only the analytical observational studies whose methodological quality met the criteria established by the New Castle-Ottawa scale were included in this review.
Results:
The review included 49 studies published between 1993 and 2015. All studies were in English and analyzed exposure to pesticides and/or agricultural activities. Most studies (32 articles) found a positive association between prostate cancer and pesticides or agricultural occupations, with estimates ranging from 1.01 to 14.10.
Conclusion:
The evidence provided by the reviewed studies indicates a possible association between the development of prostate cancer and pesticide exposure and/or agricultural occupations.
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©2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Why do we publish review articles on environmental health topics?
- Review Articles
- The role of socioeconomic position as an effect-modifier of the association between outdoor air pollution and children’s asthma exacerbations: an equity-focused systematic review
- Exposure to pesticides and prostate cancer: systematic review of the literature
- Exposures associated with clandestine methamphetamine drug laboratories in Australia
- History of chemical sensitivity and diagnosis
- Guideline
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Why do we publish review articles on environmental health topics?
- Review Articles
- The role of socioeconomic position as an effect-modifier of the association between outdoor air pollution and children’s asthma exacerbations: an equity-focused systematic review
- Exposure to pesticides and prostate cancer: systematic review of the literature
- Exposures associated with clandestine methamphetamine drug laboratories in Australia
- History of chemical sensitivity and diagnosis
- Guideline
- EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2016 for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems and illnesses