Table 3.
Adjusted odds ratios for breast cancer and residential pesticide use, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1988-1995
| Product category | Cases (no.) | Controls (no.) | Adjusted OR | (95% CI) | P trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined pesticide use | |||||
| Quartile 1 | 173 | 152 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Quartile 2 | 110 | 99 | 1.0 | 0.7, 1.5 | |
| Quartile 3 | 169 | 143 | 1.1 | 0.8, 1.5 | |
| Quartile 4 | 153 | 126 | 1.1 | 0.8, 1.6 | 0.52 |
| Insect or bug control | |||||
| Never use | 161 | 151 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 569 | 514 | 1.1 | 0.9, 1.4 | |
| Once or twice | 161 | 155 | 1.0 | 0.7, 1.4 | |
| 3-10 times | 203 | 188 | 1.1 | 0.8, 1.5 | |
| > 10 times | 205 | 171 | 1.2 | 0.8, 1.6 | 0.21 |
| Termite or carpenter ant control | |||||
| Never use | 293 | 265 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 165 | 161 | 0.9 | 0.6,1.2 | |
| Once or twice | 105 | 85 | 1.0 | 0.7,1.5 | |
| 3-10 times | 35 | 49 | 0.6 | 0.4,1.0 | |
| > 10 times | 25 | 27 | 0.8 | 0.4,1.4 | 0.11 |
| Mosquito control | |||||
| Never use | 314 | 312 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 91 | 87 | 1.0 | 0.7, 1.5 | |
| Once or twice | 15 | 18 | 0.9 | 0.5. 1.9 | |
| 3-10 times | 35 | 31 | 1.1 | 0.7, 1.9 | |
| > 10 times | 41 | 38 | 1.0 | 0.6, 1.7 | 0.79 |
| Mothball control | |||||
| Never use | 73 | 91 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 340 | 312 | 1.2 | 0.8, 1.7 | |
| < 5 times | 92 | 90 | 1.2 | 0.8, 1.9 | |
| 5-10 times | 62 | 73 | 0.9 | 0.6, 1.5 | |
| > 10 times | 186 | 149 | 1.3 | 0.9, 1.9 | 0.29 |
| Lawn care | |||||
| Never use | 316 | 286 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 408 | 343 | 1.1 | 0.9, 1.3 | |
| Once or twice | 43 | 35 | 1.2 | 0.7, 1.9 | |
| 3-20 times | 174 | 136 | 1.2 | 0.9, 1.6 | |
| > 20 times | 191 | 172 | 1.0 | 0.7, 1.3 | 0.88 |
| Outdoor and indoor plant care | |||||
| Never use | 407 | 359 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 334 | 300 | 1.0 | 0.8, 1.2 | |
| Once or twice | 33 | 26 | 1.1 | 0.6, 1.8 | |
| 3-20 times | 158 | 146 | 1.0 | 0.7, 1.3 | |
| > 20 times | 143 | 128 | 1.0 | 0.7, 1.3 | 0.71 |
| Insect repellent | |||||
| Never use | 286 | 271 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 482 | 428 | 1.2 | 0.9, 1.5 | |
| Rarely | 283 | 263 | 1.1 | 0.9, 1.5 | |
| Sometimes | 133 | 115 | 1.2 | 0.9, 1.7 | |
| Often/Very often | 66 | 50 | 1.5 | 1.0, 2.3 | 0.05 |
| Lice control | |||||
| Never use | 692 | 626 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 89 | 83 | 1.2 | 0.8, 1.6 | |
| Flea collar for pets | |||||
| No | 257 | 238 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Yes | 529 | 482 | 1.2 | 0.9, 1.5 | |
| Flea control for pets | |||||
| Never use | 465 | 395 | 1.0 | Reference | |
| Any use | 294 | 286 | 1.0 | 0.8, 1.2 | |
| Once or twice | 43 | 41 | 0.9 | 0.6, 1.5 | |
| 3-10 times | 101 | 109 | 0.9 | 0.6, 1.2 | |
| > 10 times | 150 | 136 | 1.1 | 0.8, 1.4 | 0.95 |
Odds ratios are adjusted for age at diagnosis/reference year, birth decade (six categories), previous breast cancer diagnosis, family history of breast cancer, age at first live or still birth (< 30, ≥ 30/nulliparous), education (five categories), study (Cape, PCE). "Combined pesticide use" product category includes frequency data for: insect or bug control, lawn care, outdoor and indoor plant care, insect repellent, flea control on pets. Product use for termite or carpenter ant control, mosquito control, and mothball control not included because they were only assessed in study participants from the 1999-2000 interviews.