Time-specific impact of mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on breast density of a Chilean adolescent Cohort

Introduction: High mammographic density is among the strongest and most established predictors for breast cancer risk. Puberty, the period during which breasts undergo exponential mammary growth, is considered one of the critical stages of breast development for environmental exposures. Benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are pervasive endocrine disrupting chemicals that may increase hormone-sensitive cancers. Evaluating the potential impact of BBP and PFOA exposure on pubertal breast density is important to our understanding of early-life environmental influences on breast cancer etiology. Objective: To prospectively assess the effect of biomarker concentrations of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) and PFOA at specific pubertal window of susceptibility (WOS) on adolescent breast density. Method: This study included 376 Chilean girls from the Growth and Obesity Cohort Study with data collection at four timepoints: Tanner breast stages 1 (B1) and 4 (B4), 1- year post- menarche (1YPM) and 2-years post-menarche (2YPM). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess the absolute fibroglandular volume (FGV) and percent breast density (%FGV) at 2YPM. We used concentrations of PFOA in serum and MBzP in urine as an index of exposure to PFOA and BBP, respectively. Parametric G-formula was used to estimate the time-specific effects of MBzP and PFOA on breast density. The models included body fat percentage as a time-varying confounder and age, birthweight, age at menarche, and maternal education as fixed covariates. Results: A doubling of serum PFOA concentration at B4 resulted in a non-significant increase in absolute FGV (β:11.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.28, 23.49)), while a doubling of PFOA concentration at 1YPM resulted in a decrease in % FGV (β:-4.61, 95% CI: −7.45, −1.78). We observed no associations between urine MBzP and breast density measures. Conclusion: In this cohort of Latina girls, PFOA serum concentrations corresponded to a decrease in % FGV. No effect was observed between MBzP and breast density measures across pubertal WOS.