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The impacts of Noise and air pollution on breast cancer risk in European and East Asian populations: Insights from genetic evidence.

Yu et al,

2025

Public Health

In this Mendelian-randomization study of European and East Asian populations, genetic variants linked to daytime/evening Noise and air pollutants (NO₂, NOₓ, PM₂.₅, PM₁₀) were used to assess breast cancer risk. In the European cohort, genetically predicted NO₂ exposure had an OR of 1.94 (95% CI: 1.29–2.92) and PM₁₀ had an OR of 1.42 (95% CI: 1.09–1.85) for breast cancer; in East Asian populations, NO₂ exposure showed OR = 1.14 (95% CI: 1.008–1.287). The findings suggest that both traffic-related air pollutants and Noise may causally contribute to breast cancer risk.

Understanding the role of environmental and socioeconomic factors in the geographic variation of breast cancer risk in the US-wide Sister Study.

Carroll et al,

2023

Environ Res

A nationwide U.S. study of nearly 45,000 women found clear geographic patterns in breast cancer rates, with lower risk in the South and Southeast and higher risk in the Northwest and parts of the Midwest and Northeast, even after accounting for personal risk factors like family history and reproductive factors. Environmental exposures—including air pollution (nitrogen dioxide and fine particles), light at night, greenspace, and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage—explained 21% of the geographic variation in overall breast cancer and 63% of the variation specifically for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. These findings provide strong evidence that where you live matters for breast cancer risk, with environmental factors playing a substantial role, particularly for ER+ breast cancer, the most common subtype, suggesting that reducing environmental exposures like air pollution and light at night could be effective prevention strategies at the community level.

Road and railway Noise and risk for breast cancer: A nationwide study covering Denmark.

Sørensen et al,

2021

Environ Res

A nationwide Danish study of 1.8 million women followed from 2000-2017 found that each 10-decibel increase in 10-year average road traffic Noise exposure was associated with a 3.2% increased risk of breast cancer at the least exposed façade (typically bedrooms) and a very slight increased risk at the most exposed façade. Railway Noise showed similar patterns. The associations were strongest for HER2-negative breast cancer and suggest that nighttime Noise exposure during sleep may be particularly important, adding transportation Noise to the growing list of environmental breast cancer risk factors.

Long-term exposure to road traffic Noise and incidence of breast cancer: a cohort study.

Andersen et al,

2018

Breast Cancer Res

A nationwide study of 22,466 Danish female nurses found that long-term exposure to road traffic Noise was associated with increased breast cancer risk, particularly for hormone receptor-positive tumors. For every 10-decibel increase in 24-year average Noise levels at their residence, women showed a 23% increased risk of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer and a 21% increased risk of progesterone receptor-positive (PR+) breast cancer, with no significant association for hormone receptor-negative tumors. The association was especially strong among nurses who worked night shifts, showing a 236% increased risk of ER+ breast cancer compared to a 21% increase in those not working nights. These findings suggest that chronic traffic Noise exposure may contribute to breast cancer development, potentially through stress-related hormonal pathways, with night shift work potentially amplifying this risk.

Outdoor light at night and breast cancer incidence in the Danish Nurse Cohort.

Clarke et al,

2021

Environ Res

A prospective cohort study of 16,941 Danish nurses followed from 1993/1999 through 2012 (745 breast cancer cases during 320,289 person-years) examined residential outdoor light at night (LAN) exposure using satellite data and found no overall association between LAN and breast cancer risk in fully adjusted models accounting for individual characteristics, traffic noise, and air pollution, with hazard ratios of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.77-1.23) for highest LAN exposure and 1.09 (95% CI: 0.90-1.31) for medium exposure compared to lowest tertile. A suggestive association was observed between LAN and estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer, though this was not statistically significant. Despite mechanistic evidence from melatonin research and xenograft experiments suggesting that light at night exposure may disrupt circadian rhythms and increase breast cancer risk, this large prospective study found only weak evidence for such an association using objective outdoor LAN measurements, though the study was limited to outdoor residential exposure and may not capture indoor lighting exposure or occupational night work that could be more relevant to circadian disruption and breast cancer development.

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