Research Plus

Night work breast cancer risk

A systematic review of 13 relevant papers published up to May 2007 found ‘limited evidence’ of a causal relationship between prolonged night work and elevated risk of breast cancer, but no evidence of an elevated risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer or all cancers. Evidence was of variable quality and none of the studies analysed cancer risk against cumulative number of night shifts; most based their risk assessments on years of nightshift work. Breast cancer risk was raised in nightshift work of at least 20 to 30 years duration, but no effects were identified in shorter exposures.

Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 2008; 34(1): 5–22.  http://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=1194

Tags cancer evidence based practice night work

Occupational Health at Work June/July 2008 (vol. 05/1) pp34