A feasibility study of exposure to environmental chemicals among Black and Hispanic breast cancer survivors using silicone wristbands for passive sampling

Abstract Introduction: Exposure to environmental chemicals may be an important contributor to obesity and cancer due to effects on inflammation, immune function, hormone synthesis, and metabolism, as well as cellular mechanisms including cellular signaling and apoptosis. However, little attention has been paid to environmental exposures among cancer survivors, who are at increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease compared to the general population. Methods: We recruited 25 Black and Hispanic breast cancer survivors in Washington, DC and Hackensack, NJ. Survivors completed questionnaires about their demographics and breast cancer diagnosis and wore silicone wristbands for 7 days. The wristbands passively sampled participants’ exposome, including ambient air and dermal sources of exposure. After deployment, the wristbands were extracted and extract samples were analyzed to provide quantitative data on >1,500 chemicals by using automated deconvolution software to compare spectra from a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer with compound libraries. Sample concentrations were adjusted for wear time and wristband size. Results: Seventeen Black and 8 Hispanic breast cancer survivors participated in the study. Study participants had a mean age of 58 years (range: 38-75 years) and most had been diagnosed with Stage I or II breast cancer (84%). Most participants were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience using the silicone wristbands (88%), found the wristbands easy to use (96%), and did not report that the wristband interfered with their daily activities (92%). Sixty distinct chemicals were detected in the wristbands with a mean of 21.8 chemicals (range: 12-29) detected on any single wristband. Nineteen chemicals were detected in >50% of participants. Exposure to chemicals found in personal care products and in commercial products was ubiquitous. All participants were exposed to at least 1 flame retardant (e.g., triphenyl phosphate) and at least 1 pesticide (e.g., diethyl phthalate). Four chemicals detected have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The most commonly detected chemicals (>96%) were benzyl salicylate (fragrance, UV light absorber), galaxolide (fragrance), diethyl phthalate (plasticizer), diisobutyl phthalate (plasticizer), lilial (perfume), and triphenyl phosphate (flame retardant, plasticizer). Several of the most commonly detected chemicals have the potential for genotoxicity (i.e., lilial) or endocrine disruption (e.g., benzyl salicylate, diisobutyl phthalate), so chronic exposure may have implications for survivors’ long-term health. Conclusions: Passive sampling using silicone wristbands is a feasible and well-tolerated approach to gather data on cancer survivors’ personal exposome. Breast cancer survivors’ exposures to flame retardants and pesticides, particularly biologically active chemicals, warrant additional study. Citation Format: Traci N. Bethea, Jennifer Hicks, Erin Speiser, Gail E. Starr, Lucile L. Adams-Campbell. A feasibility study of exposure to environmental chemicals among Black and Hispanic breast cancer survivors using silicone wristbands for passive sampling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C101.