Residential Exposure to Estrogen Disrupting Hazardous Air Pollutants and Breast Cancer Risk

Abstract Background Exposure to certain outdoor air pollutants may be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, though potential underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We examined whether outdoor air pollution was associated with involution of terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs), the histologic site where most cancers arise and an intermediate marker of breast cancer risk. Methods Pathologist-enumerated TDLUs were assessed in H&E (hematoxylin and eosin)-stained breast tissue sections from 1904 US women ages 18–75 who donated to the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank (2009–2012). The 2009 annual fine particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) total mass (μg/m3) at each woman’s residential address was estimated from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Downscaler Model combining Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) System modeling with air quality monitoring data. We secondarily considered CMAQ-modeled components of PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants. We used K-means clustering to identify groups of individuals with similar levels of PM2.5 components, selecting groups via cluster stability analysis. Relative rates (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between air pollutants and TDLU counts were estimated from a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model adjusted for potential confounders. Results PM2.5 total mass was associated with higher TDLU counts among all women (interquartile range (IQR) increase, RR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.11). This association was evident among both premenopausal and postmenopausal women (premenopausal RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.11; postmenopausal RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.00–1.23). We identified 3 groups corresponding to clusters that varied geographically and roughly represented high, medium, and low levels of PM2.5 components relative to population mean levels. Compared to the cluster with low levels, the clusters with both high (RR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.08–2.80) and medium (RR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.13–2.93) levels were associated with higher TDLU counts; although not significantly different, the magnitude of the associations was stronger among postmenopausal women. Conclusions Higher PM2.5 levels were associated with reduced TDLU involution as measured by TDLU counts. Air pollution exposure may influence the histologic characteristics of normal tissue which could in turn affect breast cancer risk.

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Metallic Air Pollutants and Breast Cancer Risk in a Nationwide Cohort Study

Epidemiology ◽

10.1097/ede.0000000000000917 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 20-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Alexandra J. White ◽

Katie M. O’Brien ◽

Nicole M. Niehoff ◽

Rachel Carroll ◽

Dale P. Sandler

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Breast Cancer Risk ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Air Pollutants

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Residential exposure to vehicular traffic-related air pollution during childhood and breast cancer risk

Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 159 ◽

pp. 257-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Shahar Shmuel ◽

Alexandra J. White ◽

Dale P. Sandler

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Breast Cancer Risk ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Vehicular Traffic ◽

Residential Exposure

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Chronic Low-Dose Exposure to Xenoestrogen Ambient Air Pollutants and Breast Cancer Risk: XENAIR Protocol for a Case-Control Study Nested Within the French E3N Cohort (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.15167 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Amina Amadou ◽

Thomas Coudon ◽

Delphine Praud ◽

Pietro Salizzoni ◽

Karen Leffondre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Breast Cancer Risk ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Hormone Receptor Status ◽

The Impact ◽

Control Study

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women in industrialized countries. Lifestyle and environmental factors, particularly endocrine-disrupting pollutants, have been suggested to play a role in breast cancer risk. Current epidemiological studies, although not fully consistent, suggest a positive association of breast cancer risk with exposure to several International Agency for Research on Cancer Group 1 air-pollutant carcinogens, such as particulate matter, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dioxins, Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and cadmium. However, epidemiological studies remain scarce and inconsistent. It has been proposed that the menopausal status could modify the relationship between pollutants and breast cancer and that the association varies with hormone receptor status. OBJECTIVE The XENAIR project will investigate the association of breast cancer risk (overall and by hormone receptor status) with chronic exposure to selected air pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), BaP, dioxins, PCB-153, and cadmium. METHODS Our research is based on a case-control study nested within the French national E3N cohort of 5222 invasive breast cancer cases identified during follow-up from 1990 to 2011, and 5222 matched controls. A questionnaire was sent to all participants to collect their lifetime residential addresses and information on indoor pollution. We will assess these exposures using complementary models of land-use regression, atmospheric dispersion, and regional chemistry-transport (CHIMERE) models, via a Geographic Information System. Associations with breast cancer risk will be modeled using conditional logistic regression models. We will also study the impact of exposure on DNA methylation and interactions with genetic polymorphisms. Appropriate statistical methods, including Bayesian modeling, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis, will be used to assess the impact of multipollutant exposure. The fraction of breast cancer cases attributable to air pollution will be estimated. RESULTS The XENAIR project will contribute to current knowledge on the health effects of air pollution and identify and understand environmental modifiable risk factors related to breast cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS The results will provide relevant evidence to governments and policy-makers to improve effective public health prevention strategies on air pollution. The XENAIR dataset can be used in future efforts to study the effects of exposure to air pollution associated with other chronic conditions. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/15167

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Chronic Low-Dose Exposure to Xenoestrogen Ambient Air Pollutants and Breast Cancer Risk: XENAIR Protocol for a Case-Control Study Nested Within the French E3N Cohort

JMIR Research Protocols ◽

10.2196/15167 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e15167 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amina Amadou ◽

Thomas Coudon ◽

Delphine Praud ◽

Pietro Salizzoni ◽

Karen Leffondre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Breast Cancer Risk ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Hormone Receptor Status ◽

The Impact ◽

Control Study

Background Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women in industrialized countries. Lifestyle and environmental factors, particularly endocrine-disrupting pollutants, have been suggested to play a role in breast cancer risk. Current epidemiological studies, although not fully consistent, suggest a positive association of breast cancer risk with exposure to several International Agency for Research on Cancer Group 1 air-pollutant carcinogens, such as particulate matter, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), dioxins, Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and cadmium. However, epidemiological studies remain scarce and inconsistent. It has been proposed that the menopausal status could modify the relationship between pollutants and breast cancer and that the association varies with hormone receptor status. Objective The XENAIR project will investigate the association of breast cancer risk (overall and by hormone receptor status) with chronic exposure to selected air pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), BaP, dioxins, PCB-153, and cadmium. Methods Our research is based on a case-control study nested within the French national E3N cohort of 5222 invasive breast cancer cases identified during follow-up from 1990 to 2011, and 5222 matched controls. A questionnaire was sent to all participants to collect their lifetime residential addresses and information on indoor pollution. We will assess these exposures using complementary models of land-use regression, atmospheric dispersion, and regional chemistry-transport (CHIMERE) models, via a Geographic Information System. Associations with breast cancer risk will be modeled using conditional logistic regression models. We will also study the impact of exposure on DNA methylation and interactions with genetic polymorphisms. Appropriate statistical methods, including Bayesian modeling, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis, will be used to assess the impact of multipollutant exposure. The fraction of breast cancer cases attributable to air pollution will be estimated. Results The XENAIR project will contribute to current knowledge on the health effects of air pollution and identify and understand environmental modifiable risk factors related to breast cancer risk. Conclusions The results will provide relevant evidence to governments and policy-makers to improve effective public health prevention strategies on air pollution. The XENAIR dataset can be used in future efforts to study the effects of exposure to air pollution associated with other chronic conditions. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/15167

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