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. 2016 Nov 14;6(11):e012580.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012580.

Atmospheric fine particulate matter and breast cancer mortality: a population-based cohort study

Giovanna Tagliabue  1 , Alessandro Borgini  2 , Andrea Tittarelli  1 , Aaron van Donkelaar  3 , Randall V Martin  3   4 , Martina Bertoldi  2 , Sabrina Fabiano  1 , Anna Maghini  1 , Tiziana Codazzi  1 , Alessandra Scaburri  2 , Imma Favia  2 , Alessandro Cau  2 , Giulio Barigelletti  1 , Roberto Tessandori  5 , Paolo Contiero  2
Affiliations

Atmospheric fine particulate matter and breast cancer mortality: a population-based cohort study

Giovanna Tagliabue et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: Atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has multiple adverse effects on human health. Global atmospheric levels of PM2.5 increased by 0.55 μg/m3/year (2.1%/year) from 1998 through 2012. There is evidence of a causal relationship between atmospheric PM2.5 and breast cancer (BC) incidence, but few studies have investigated BC mortality and atmospheric PM2.5. We investigated BC mortality in relation to atmospheric PM2.5 levels among patients living in Varese Province, northern Italy.

Methods: We selected female BC cases, archived in the local population-based cancer registry, diagnosed at age 50-69 years, between 2003 and 2009. The geographic coordinates of each woman's place of residence were identified, and individual PM2.5 exposures were assessed from satellite data. Grade, stage, age at diagnosis, period of diagnosis and participation in BC screening were potential confounders. Kaplan-Meir and Nelson-Aalen methods were used to test for mortality differences in relation to PM2.5 quartiles. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modelling estimated HRs and 95% CIs of BC death in relation to PM2.5 exposure.

Results: Of 2021 BC cases, 325 died during follow-up to 31 December 2013, 246 for BC. Risk of BC death was significantly higher for all three upper quartiles of PM2.5 exposure compared to the lowest, with HRs of death: 1.82 (95% CI 1.15 to 2.89), 1.73 (95% CI 1.12 to 2.67) and 1.72 (95% CI 1.08 to 2.75).

Conclusions: Our study indicates that the risk of BC mortality increases with PM2.5 exposure. Although additional research is required to confirm these findings, they are further evidence that PM2.5 exposure is harmful and indicate an urgent need to improve global air quality.

Keywords: cancer registry; environment; particulate matter; prognosis; survival.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of the study area and satellite-derived PM2.5. PM, particulate matter.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Survival of breast cancer cases, diagnosed in 2003–2009 and resident in Varese Province, northern Italy according to exposure to PM2.5 (quartiles). PM, particulate matter.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cumulative hazard of breast cancer death in cases diagnosed in 2003–2009 and resident in Varese Province, according to exposure to PM2.5 (quartiles). PM, particulate matter.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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