After stratification based on hormone receptor status, there was a statistically significant inverse association only between the 3rd quintile group of BDE-153 and ER+ breast cancer risk (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16–0.93) although the number of cases included in the 3rd quintile group was limited (e.g. 12 ER+ and 4 ER- cases) (Tables S1and S2). Here, ESR1 is linked to breast carcinoma.