Toxic Metals and Their Emerging Role as Risk Factors in Hormone-Related Reproductive Cancers
Milena Anđelković1,2, Katarina Baralić1, Dragana Vukelić1
1Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia.
Environmental Toxicology
|May 20, 2026
Summary
Environmental toxic metals like cadmium and arsenic are linked to hormone-dependent cancers, including breast and prostate cancer. Further research is needed on combined exposures and less-studied cancers.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Oncology
Background:
- Industrialization causes widespread toxic metal pollution, increasing daily human exposure.
- Toxic metals accumulate in the body, posing long-term health risks, with some classified as carcinogens or metallohormones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review human studies on toxic metal exposure and hormone-dependent cancers.
- Focus on breast, prostate, testicular, ovarian, and uterine cancers, considering metals classified as carcinogens or public health concerns.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of human studies investigating toxic metal exposure and hormone-dependent cancers.
- Inclusion of metals like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr).
Main Results:
- Breast and prostate cancers show strong associations with cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) exposure.
- Potential links with lead (Pb) and mixed evidence for mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) depending on study specifics.
- Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding combined metal exposures and less-studied cancers like ovarian and testicular.
Conclusions:
- Toxic metal exposure is a significant concern for hormone-dependent cancers.
- Further research is crucial to address combined exposures, tumor tissue analysis, and understudied cancer types.
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