Key clinical point: Chronic exposure to heavy metals was not associated with an increased risk for breast cancer (BC) among never smokers in the general population.
Major finding: Serum levels of cobalt were inversely associated with the risk for BC (odds ratio 0.33; P = .033), with no association being observed between the risk for BC and exposure to other heavy metals.
Study details : Findings are from a prospective cohort study including 150 women with BC and without a smoking history and 150 matched control women without BC and smoking history.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the Tuscany Region, “Bando Ricerca Salute 2018.” The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Caini S et al. Serum heavy metals and breast cancer risk: A case-control study nested in the Florence cohort of the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition) study. Sci Total Environ. 2022;160568 (Dec 1). Doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160568