Fine Particular Matter Linked to Increase in Breast Cancer Risk
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Sept. 12, 2023 -- Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer, specifically estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Alexandra J. White, Ph.D., from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and colleagues estimated annual average PM2.5 concentrations for a five-year historical period 10 years prior to enrollment of women in a prospective cohort study. The adjusted hazard ratios for the association between a 10-µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and breast cancer incidence were estimated overall and by ER status and catchment area.
A total of 15,870 breast cancer cases were identified with follow-up through 2017. The researchers observed a significant association for a 10-µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 with overall breast cancer incidence (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.13). The association was significant for ER+ tumors (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.17) but was not seen for ER− tumors (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.84 to 1.13). Across the catchment areas, the overall breast cancer hazard ratios (95 percent confidence intervals) were >1, ranging from 1.04 (0.68 to 1.57) in Louisiana to 1.26 (0.96 to 1.64) in North Carolina.
"We observed an 8 percent increase in breast cancer incidence for living in areas with higher PM2.5 exposure. Although this is a relatively modest increase, these findings are significant given that air pollution is a ubiquitous exposure that impacts almost everyone," White said in a statement. "These findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting that air pollution is related to breast cancer."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2023
Read this next
Sociodemographics Tied to Rehab Use During Critical Illness Hospitalization
FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- For older adults hospitalized with a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), social determinants of health (SDOH) are associated with use of skilled...
Breakthrough Gene Therapy Enables Infant Born Deaf to Hear
FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- Significant hearing improvements have been achieved in an infant with profound hearing loss due to a biallelic otoferlin gene (OTOF) mutation, according to...
Implantable Continuous Flow Device Feasible for Small Children With Severe Systolic Heart Failure
FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- The Jarvik 2015 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) seems promising as an implantable continuous flow device for small children with severe systolic...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.