Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and risk of breast cancer in Western Australia.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate current breast cancer risk due to occupational exposure to ionizing radiation.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Western Australian population-based Breast Cancer Employment and Environment Study. The Breast Cancer Employment and Environment Study included 1205 cases with incident breast cancer during 2009-2011 and 1789 controls. Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated with logistic regression models.

RESULTS

There was a weak, not statistically significant association between breast cancer and occupational exposure to ionizing radiation (OR = 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.86 to 1.57). The risk of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer with occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in women who were premenopausal at the time of interview was higher (OR = 2.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.09 to 6.03).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the risk of breast cancer is low at current levels of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, although the risk of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive cancer may be a concern.