Significant increase in risk seen for ER-positive breast cancer, but not ER-negative tumors<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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TUESDAY, Sept. 12, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Fine particulate matter (PM2.5<\/sub>) 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<\/em>.<\/p>\n 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<\/sub> 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-\u00c2\u00b5g\/m3<\/sup> increase in PM2.5<\/sub> and breast cancer incidence were estimated overall and by ER status and catchment area.<\/p>\n A total of 15,870 breast cancer cases were identified with follow-up through 2017. The researchers observed a significant association for a 10-\u00c2\u00b5g\/m3<\/sup> increase in PM2.5<\/sub> 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\u00e2\u0088\u0092 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.<\/p>\n “We observed an 8 percent increase in breast cancer incidence for living in areas with higher PM2.5 <\/sub>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.”<\/p>\n