The relationship between night work and breast cancer
10.1186/s40557-018-0221-4
- Author:
Hye Eun LEE
1
;
Jongin LEE
;
Tae Won JANG
;
In Ah KIM
;
Jungsun PARK
;
Jaechul SONG
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Dongdaemun-gu Kyunghee-daero 23, Seoul, Republic of Korea. heunn.lee@gmail.com.
- Publication Type:Meta-Analysis
- Keywords:
Breast neoplasm;
Night work;
Carcinogens
- MeSH:
Breast Neoplasms;
Breast;
Carcinogens;
Case-Control Studies;
Cohort Studies;
Compensation and Redress;
Denmark;
Epidemiologic Studies;
Female;
Humans;
International Agencies;
Korea
- From:Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2018;30(1):11-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Since the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified shift work that involves circadian disruption as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” there has been growing concern on the relationship between night work and breast cancer. In Korea, about 10–15% of workers are engaged in night-shift work, and breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. The purpose of this study was to review epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between night work and breast cancer. METHODS: We reviewed 21 original articles and 5 meta analyses on relationship between nightwork and breast cancer, and investigated the compensation criteria of Denmark. RESULTS: The association between breast cancer and night work has been reported by numerous epidemiologic studies, including cohort studies, case-control studies, and meta-analysis. However, a dose-response relationship has not clearly emerged among workers exposed to less than 20 years of night work. CONCLUSION: Although there are some limitations to the epidemiological studies so far, further consideration of breast cancer cases in patients with high exposure to night work is needed to assess breast cancer as a work-related disease.
