Environment and Cancer Epidemiology

National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences

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Abstract

To investigate the effects of environmental factors on breast cancer risk we have conducted a number of high-quality population-based studies. We have been working in the Sister Study cohort, a large prospective study of women who have a sister with breast cancer. The Sister Study is a study of over 50,000 women across the United States which has information on exposure to residential criteria air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is a heterogeneous mixture of pollutants that varies geographically. We evaluated the role of PM2.5 and other air pollutants in relation to breast cancer risk in the Sister Study and demonstrated substantial geographic heterogeneity in associations (PMID: 315966020). We observed similar heterogeneity in the PM2.5 and breast cancer association among women in the Black Womens Health Study (PMID: 33387538). In extensions of this work within the Sister Study cohort, we have observed that women with a family history of breast cancer may be more susceptible to air pollutant exposure (PMID: 34906967). Further, we have considered a novel air pollution exposure metric, radioactivity of air pollution particles, and found that higher residential levels of exposure may be relevant for estrogen receptor negative breast cancer (PMID: 35377195). Key next steps in improving our understanding of the air pollution and breast cancer relationship have been outlines in an invited commentary (PMID: 34038219). Another geospatial-based exposure, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, was found to be inversely related to breast cancer risk in the Sister Study, supporting a potential role for vitamin D in breast cancer etiology (PMID:34894486). Following up on our manuscript that observed a higher risk of breast cancer for adult use of permanent hair dye and chemical straighteners (PMID: 31797377), we further explored how adolescent use of these products may be related to breast cancer risk. Extending this research to other hormone-related cancer types, we have found that frequent straightener use was also associated with an elevated risk of ovarian cancer (PMID: 34173819) and uterine cancer (in press).