Air pollution causes breast cancer

Air pollution has been known to be linked to a range of health problems. And a groundbreaking new study shows that air pollution from traffic can increase the risk of breast cancer - one of the most fatal diseases in women.

" We have watched the rate of breast cancer increase for a while ," continues Dr. Mark Goldberg. " Because no one has studied the link between air pollution and breast cancer using the genus map. Air pollution. We decided to study in this direction . '

The risk of breast cancer is higher in areas with air pollution. (Illustration).

Dr. Goldberg and his colleagues approached the problem by combining data from many studies. They first used the results of their research from 2005 to 2006 to create two air pollution maps showing the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a component of emissions from vehicles. in different regions of Montreal in 1996 and 10 years earlier.

They then mapped the address of the women diagnosed with breast cancer from the results of the 1996-1997 study and assigned them to air pollution maps. Their findings were startling. In areas of high air pollution, the rate of breast cancer is significantly higher.

"We found a link between postmenopausal breast cancer and exposure to nitrogen dioxide - this gas is a sign of air pollution, " Dr. Goldberg said . Different nitrogen dioxide, varying from 5ppb (5 parts per billion) to 30 ppb (30 parts per billion).

We found that if the concentration of nitrogen dioxide increased by 5 parts per billion, the risk of breast cancer increased by about 25 times. As a result, women who live in the most polluted areas are nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer than those living in less polluted areas .

But worrying results need to be interpreted with caution to avoid misunderstandings. Goldberg explained, ' First of all, this does not mean that nitrogen dioxide causes breast cancer. Wherever there is nitrogen dioxide, there are also other gases and dust emitted from the vehicles - some of which are known to cause cancer, nitrogen dioxide is only a sign, not is a direct pathogen '.

Researchers have tried, but there are still incomplete points. ' For example, we don't know how many women in the study were exposed to polluted air, because it depends on each person's daily activity patterns, how much time they spend at home and How much time to work? '.

A Goldberg colleague said, ' Some studies published in the United States also show a link between cancer and air pollution. We have no arguments at this time to ensure that air pollution causes breast cancer. From a public health point of view, these relationships can serve as a basis for reducing air pollution due to residential traffic . '