Air pollution increases breast cancer risk

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Air Pollution and Breast Cancer Risk

Residing in an area with high levels of air pollution is associated with increased breast cancer risk, according to recent research from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Data and Participants

Data was obtained from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, including over 500,000 participants residing in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Louisiana, Detroit, or Atlanta from 1995 to 1996. The mean age of participants was 62 years, with most being non-Hispanic White.

Particulate Matter and Air Pollution

Particulate matter was described as a mix of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. Sources of particulate matter include combustion processes such as coal or oil, motor vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and wood smoke or vegetation burning.

Evaluation of PM2.5

Investigators evaluated particulate matter pollution 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller (PM2.5) in the study. This type of particulate matter is small enough to breathe deep into the lungs. The estimated annual mean historical PM2.5 concentrations for each participant’s residence was evaluated.

Association between Air Pollution and Breast Cancer

There were 15,870 cases of breast cancer across the 20 years patients followed. Women with higher PM2.5 levels near their home before enrolling in the study had a higher average incidence of breast cancer.

“We observed an 8% increase in breast cancer incidence for living in areas with higher PM2.5 exposure,” said Alexandra White, PhD, lead author and head of the Environment and Cancer Epidemiology Group at NIEHS.

“Although this is a relatively modest increase, these findings are significant given that air pollution is a ubiquitous exposure that impacts almost everyone,” White added. “These findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting that air pollution is related to breast cancer.”

Impact on Different Types of Breast Cancer

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and -negative (ER-) tumors were separately evaluated to determine the association between air pollution and breast cancer based on tumor type. PM2.5 was associated with increased ER+ breast cancer incidence, but not ER- breast cancer incidence, indicating PM2.5 may impact breast cancer through a biologic pathway of endocrine disruption.

Importance of Historic Air Pollution Levels

“The ability to consider historic air pollution levels is an important strength of this research,” said Rena Jones, PhD, senior author and principal investigator of the study at NCI. “It can take many years for breast cancer to develop, and, in the past, air pollution levels tended to be higher, which may make previous exposure levels particularly relevant for cancer development.”

Recommendations for Future Studies

The study had a limited ability to investigate the differences in the association between air pollution and breast cancer across study areas. Investigators recommended future studies to explore how regional differences in air pollution impact breast cancer incidence.

Conclusion

The research conducted by NIEHS and NCI highlights the association between high levels of air pollution, specifically PM2.5, and increased breast cancer risk. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence linking air pollution to breast cancer incidence. It emphasizes the need for sustainable development efforts to reduce air pollution and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Reference

1. High levels of particulate air pollution associated with increased breast cancer incidence. National Institutes of Health. September 11, 2023. September 18, 2023. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/high-levels-particulate-air-pollution-associated-increased-breast-cancer-incidence

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under SDG 3 are Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. Under SDG 11, the specific target is Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions two indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. The first indicator is breast cancer incidence rates, which can be used to measure progress towards Target 3.9 of SDG 3. The second indicator is particulate matter pollution levels (PM2.5), which can be used to measure progress towards Target 11.6 of SDG 11.

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Source: contemporaryobgyn.net

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