Environmental Exposures and Their Association With Prostate Cancer

What Environmental Exposures Should You Know About?

A few medicinal or environmental exposures have been studied in detail as to their potential impact on developing prostate cancer. Research is ongoing with regards to all of the following exposures and some disagreement in the medical community exists as to the importance of each of these.

With this in mind, there are a few exposures that you should keep in mind.

1. Cadmium Exposure

   Cadmium is a naturally occurring element that is found in very high levels in certain industrial settings. Specifically, cadmium recovery smelters, metal plating plants, and factories that produce nickel-cadmium batteries are potential places for exposure. Cigarette smoke also contains traces of cadmium.

   Some studies have shown an increase in prostate cancer in men who have been exposed to high levels of cadmium, while other studies have not shown any association. Therefore, the evidence is worrisome, but inconclusive that cadmium exposure may raise the risk of prostate cancer.

2. Dioxin Exposure

   Dioxin (otherwise known as TCDD) is a chemical that was used extensively during the Vietnam War as a component in herbicides. Similar chemicals are used in herbicides today as well.

   There have been a few studies looking at the association between dioxin exposure and the development of many types of cancers (including prostate cancer). However, thus far, the data from these studies have been conflicting and no clear association has been found.

3. Calcium Intake

   A number of studies have been done that have shown that men who have the highest intakes of calcium have higher rates of prostate cancer than those with the lowest intakes of calcium. It is not clear whether the very high rates of calcium intake are actually causing the higher rates of prostate cancer or whether there is simply an association that exists between the two.

4. Multivitamins

   There has been some discussion within the medical community about the possibility that an association exists between the development of prostate cancer and the regular use of multivitamins. However, studies have not shown any clear association.

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   _{Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides.: Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 1996. In: Washington DC, National Academy Press, 1996.}

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   _{Lawson KA, Wright ME, Subar A, et al.:Multivitamin use and risk of prostate cancer in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 99 (10): 754-64, 2007.}

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