OHS participants contributed to research on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) – Video presentation
Feb 27, 2026 // Study Updates
Data from more than 9,000 OHS participants were used in a recent study looking at how workplace exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals* (EDCs) can impact cancer risk. High doses of EDCs can disrupt sex hormones, such as estrogens and testosterone, and this exposure can play a role in the development of certain cancers.
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* Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. Among the 17 EDCs studied were aluminum, lead, biphenyl A (BPA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trichloroethylene (used in de-greasers) and ethylene glycol (found in car antifreeze or coolants).
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Using data taken from the Ontario Health Study’s Baseline Questionnaire, Dr. Vikki Ho of Université de Montréal looked at participants’ exposures to higher doses of 17 EDCs found in the workplace and the risk of developing breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. Her team used data from 3,655 OHS participants who were diagnosed with either breast, prostate or colorectal cancer since joining the study, as well as data from 5,654 OHS participants who were cancer free when they joined the Study.
The OHS is the largest contributor to CanPath, the national health research platform. Dr. Ho’s work also looked at data from three other CanPath cohorts: the BC Generation’s Project, Alberta Tomorrow’s Project, and CARTaGENE in Quebec where Dr. Ho is Co-Scientific Director.