Traffic-related air pollution and prostate cancer risk: a case-control study in Montreal, Canada

Cancer incidence trends in New York State and associations with common population-level exposures 2010-2018: an ecological study

The impact of common environmental exposures in combinations with socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on cancer development, particularly for young adults, remains understudied. Here, we leveraged environmental and cancer incidence data collected in New York State at the county level to examine the association between 31 exposures and 10 common cancers (i.e., lung and bronchus, thyroid, colorectal, kidney and renal pelvis, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia for both sexes; corpus uteri and female breast cancer; prostate cancer), for three age groups (25-49, 50-69, and 70-84 year-olds). For each cancer, we stratified by age group and sex, and applied regression models to examine the associations with multiple exposures simultaneously. The models included 642,013 incident cancer cases during 2010-2018 and found risk factors consistent with previous reports (e.g., smoking and physical inactivity). Models also found positive associations between ambient air pollutants (ozone and PM2.5) and prostate cancer, female breast cancer, and melanoma of the skin across multiple population strata. Additionally, the models were able to better explain the variation in cancer incidence data among 25-49 year-olds than the two older age groups. These findings support the impact of common environmental exposures on cancer development, particularly for younger age groups.

Assessing the Global Impact of Ambient Air Pollution on Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the association between exposure to major ambient air pollutants and the incidence and mortality of lung cancer and some nonlung cancers.

METHODS

This meta-analysis used PubMed and EMBASE databases to access published studies that met the eligibility criteria. Primary analysis investigated the association between exposure to air pollutants and cancer incidence and mortality. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis was conducted using R software.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 61 studies, of which 53 were cohort studies and eight were case-control studies. Particulate matter 2.5 mm or less in diameter (PM2.5) was the exposure pollutant in half (55.5%), and lung cancer was the most frequently studied cancer in 59% of the studies. A pooled analysis of exposure reported in cohort and case-control studies and cancer incidence demonstrated a significant relationship (relative risk [RR], 1.04 [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.05]; I2, 88.93%; P < .05). A significant association was observed between exposure to pollutants such as PM2.5 (RR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.04 to 1.12]; I2, 68.52%) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (RR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05]; I2, 73.52%) and lung cancer incidence. The relationship between exposure to the air pollutants and cancer mortality demonstrated a significant relationship (RR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.10]; I2, 94.77%; P < .001). Among the four pollutants, PM2.5 (RR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.08 to 1.22]; I2, 95.33%) and NO2 (RR, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.08]; I2, 89.98%) were associated with lung cancer mortality.

CONCLUSION

The study confirms the association between air pollution exposure and lung cancer incidence and mortality. The meta-analysis results could contribute to community cancer prevention and diagnosis and help inform stakeholders and policymakers in decision making.

Quantifying the contribution of environmental variables to cyclists' exposure to PM2.5 using machine learning techniques

Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to travel-related exposure to air pollution. Understanding the factors that increase exposure is crucial for promoting healthier urban environments. Machine learning models have successfully predicted air pollutant concentrations, but they tend to be less interpretable than classical statistical ones, such as linear models. This study aimed to develop a predictive model to assess cyclists' exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in urban environments. The model was generated using geo-temporally referenced data and machine learning techniques. We explored several models and found that the gradient boosting machine learning model best fitted the PM2.5 predictions, with a minimum root mean square error value of 5.62 μg m-3. The variables with greatest influence on cyclist exposure were the temporal ones (month, day of the week, and time of the day), followed by meteorological variables, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and atmospheric pressure. Additionally, we considered relevant attributes, which are partially linked to spatial characteristics. These attributes encompass street typology, vegetation density, and the flow of vehicles on a particular street, which quantifies the number of vehicles passing a given point per minute. Mean PM2.5 concentration was lower in bicycle paths away from vehicular traffic than in bike lanes along streets. These outcomes underscore the need to thoughtfully design public transportation routes, including bus routes, concerning the network of bicycle pathways. Such strategic planning attempts to improve the air quality in urban landscapes.

Determinants of residential greenness and its association with prostate cancer risk: A case-control study in Singapore

BACKGROUND

Exposure to greenness has been shown to be beneficial to health, but few studies have examined the association between residential greenness and prostate cancer (PCa) risk. Our main objectives were to identify the determinants of residential greenness, and to investigate if residential greenness was associated with PCa risk in Singapore.

METHODS

The hospital-based case-control study was conducted between April 2007 and May 2009. The Singapore Prostate Cancer Study (SPCS) comprised 240 prostate cancer cases and 268 controls, whose demographics and residential address were collected using questionnaires. Residential greenness was measured by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) around the participants' homes using a buffer size of 1 km. Determinants of NDVI were identified using a multivariable linear regression model. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of associations between NDVI and PCa risk, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Having a BMI within the second quartile, as compared to the lowest quartile, was associated with higher levels of NDVI (β-coefficient = 0.263; 95% CI = 0.040-0.485) after adjusting for covariates. Additionally, being widowed or separated, as compared to being married, was associated with lower levels of NDVI (β-coefficient = -0.393; 95% CI = -0.723, -0.063). An interquartile range (IQR) increase in NDVI was positively associated with prostate cancer risk OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.02-2.07). Stratified analysis by tumour grade and stage showed that higher NDVI was associated with higher risk of low grade PCa.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that residential greenness was associated with higher risk of PCa in Singapore. Future studies on the quality and type of green spaces, as well as other factors of residential greenness, in association with PCa risk should be conducted to better understand this relationship.

Prostate cancer in New York City: impact of neighborhood level social determinants of care

Social determinants of health may impact prostate cancer presentation. Since neighborhoods may influence adjacent neighborhoods across often porous and arbitrary borders, we performed generalized spatial two stage least squares cross sections regression to assess direct and indirect (via adjacent neighborhoods) impact of neighborhood level independent variables. Using the New York State Public Access Cancer Epidemiology Data and the NYC Open neighborhood-level dataset, we discovered a direct association between Race and poverty with the likelihood of presenting with advanced prostate cancer. There were no indirect impacts of neighborhood variables, indicating the need to directly target neighborhoods to improve outcomes.

Neighbourhood social deprivation and risk of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Striking geographic variations in prostate cancer incidence suggest an aetiological role for spatially-distributed factors. We assessed whether neighbourhood social deprivation, which can reflect limited social contacts, unfavourable lifestyle and environmental exposures, is associated with prostate cancer risk.

METHODS

In 2005-2012, we recruited 1931 incident prostate cancer cases and 1994 controls in a case-control study in Montreal, Canada. Lifetime residential addresses were linked to an area-based social deprivation index around recruitment (2006) and about 10 years earlier (1996). Logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Men residing in areas characterised by greater social deprivation had elevated prostate cancer risks (ORs of 1.54 and 1.60 for recent and past exposures, respectively; highest vs lowest quintiles), independently from area- and individual-level confounders and screening patterns. The increase in risk with recent high social deprivation was particularly elevated for high-grade prostate cancer at diagnosis (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.32-2.64). Associations were more pronounced for neighbourhoods with higher proportions of separated/divorced or widowed individuals in the past, and with higher percentages of residents living alone recently.

CONCLUSIONS

These novel findings, suggesting that neighbourhood-level social deprivation increases the risk of prostate cancer, point out to potential targeted public health interventions.

The role of area-level socioeconomic disadvantage in racial disparities in cancer incidence in metropolitan Detroit

BACKGROUND

Neighborhood deprivation is associated with both race and cancer incidence, but there is a need to better understand the effect of structural inequities on racial cancer disparities. The goal of this analysis was to evaluate the relationship between a comprehensive measure of neighborhood-level social disadvantage and cancer incidence within the racially diverse population of metropolitan Detroit.

METHODS

We estimated breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer incidence rates using Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System and US decennial census data. Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) using Census Bureau's American Community Survey data at the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMA) level. Associations between ADI at time of diagnosis and cancer incidence were estimated using Poisson mixed-effects models adjusting for age and sex. Attenuation of race-incidence associations by ADI was quantified using the "mediation" package in R.

RESULTS

ADI was inversely associated with incidence of breast cancer for both non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women (NHW: per-quartile RR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.88-0.96; NHB: per-quartile RR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.98) and with prostate cancer incidence only for NHW men (per-quartile RR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.97). ADI was positively associated with incidence of lung cancer for NHWs and NHBs (NHW: per-quartile RR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.21; NHB: per-quartile RR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.25-1.51) and incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) only among NHBs (per-quartile RR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21). ADI significantly attenuated the relationship between race and hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (proportion attenuated = 8.5%, 95% CI 4.1-16.6%) and CRC cancer (proportion attenuated = 7.3%, 95% CI 3.7 to 12.8%), and there was a significant interaction between race and ADI for lung (interaction RR = 1.22, p < 0.0001) and prostate cancer (interaction RR = 1.09, p = 0.00092).

CONCLUSIONS

Area-level socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with risk of common cancers in a racially diverse population and plays a role in racial differences in cancer incidence.

Neighborhood Deprivation and Rurality Associated With Patient-Reported Outcomes and Survival in Men With Prostate Cancer in NRG Oncology RTOG 0415

PURPOSE

Rurality and neighborhood deprivation can contribute to poor patient-reported outcomes, which have not been systematically evaluated in patients with specific cancers in national trials. Our objective was to examine the effect of rurality and neighborhood socioeconomic and environmental deprivation on patient-reported outcomes and survival in men with prostate cancer in NRG Oncology RTOG 0415.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Data from men with prostate cancer in trial NRG Oncology RTOG 0415 were analyzed; 1,092 men were randomized to receive conventional radiation therapy or hypofractionated radiation therapy. Rurality was categorized as urban or rural. Neighborhood deprivation was assessed using the area deprivation index and air pollution indicators (nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) via patient ZIP codes. Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite measured cancer-specific quality of life. The Hopkins symptom checklist measured anxiety and depression. EuroQoL-5 Dimension assessed general health.

RESULTS

We analyzed 751 patients in trial NRG Oncology RTOG 0415. At baseline, patients from the most deprived neighborhoods had worse bowel (P = .011), worse sexual (P = .042), and worse hormonal (P = .015) scores; patients from the most deprived areas had worse self-care (P = .04) and more pain (P = .047); and patients from rural areas had worse urinary (P = .03) and sexual (P = .003) scores versus patients from urban areas. Longitudinal analyses showed that the 25% most deprived areas (P = .004) and rural areas (P = .002) were associated with worse EuroQoL-5 Dimension visual analog scale score. Patients from urban areas (hazard ratio, 1.81; P = .033) and the 75% less-deprived neighborhoods (hazard ratio, 0.68; P = .053) showed relative decrease in risk of recurrence or death (disease-free survival).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with prostate cancer from the most deprived neighborhoods and rural areas had low quality of life at baseline, poor general health longitudinally, and worse disease-free survival. Interventions should screen populations from deprived neighborhoods and rural areas to improve patient access to supportive care services.

Residential greenspace and risk of cancer: A prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests that proximity to greenspace is linked to multiple health outcomes, but its association with the risk of cancer is not fully understood. The mechanism for greenspace's influences on cancer incidence may be through reducing depressive symptoms and increasing physical activity. Our study aimed to investigate the associations between exposure to residential greenspace and the risk of common types of cancer and whether the associations were modified or mediated by depressive symptoms and physical activity.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 401,189 participants in the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010 who were free of cancer and followed up until 2021. Residential greenspace was defined as the percentage of outdoor greenspace surrounding the residential location of each participant across 1000 m and 300 m buffers, which were estimated with land use data. Electronic health records were used to assess the incidence of 25 types of cancer. Cox proportional hazards regressions were performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) per an interquartile range (IQR) increase of greenspace after multiple comparisons using Bonferroni correction.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12.4 years, a total of 43,273 incident cancer cases were documented. We found that exposure to greenspace at a 1000 m buffer was significantly associated with prostate cancer (HR = 0.93, 95 % CI: 0.89-0.96), and suggestively associated with oral cavity (HR = 0.86, 95 % CI: 0.76-0.98) and bladder cancer (HR = 1.08, 95 % CI: 1.01-1.15), but not with other cancers. Moreover, the association between greenspace and prostate cancer was mediated by physical activity, and was modified by depressive symptoms (P for heterogeneity = 0.022). Similar findings were also observed for greenspace at a 300 m buffer.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed an association between exposure to greenspace and prostate cancer, but not with other cancers.

Incidence of cancer among Nordic police officers

Police work may expose officers to various circumstances that have potential for increasing their risk of cancer, including traffic-related air pollution, night shift work and radiation from radars. In this study, we examined the incidence of cancer among Nordic male and female police officers. We utilize data from the Nordic Occupational Cancer (NOCCA) project, which linked census data on occupations from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to national cancer registries for the period 1961 to 2005. We report standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of selected cancers for each country by sex, age and calendar period. The cohort included 38 523 male and 1998 female police officers. As compared with the general population, male police officers had a 7% (95% CI: 4-9%) excess cancer risk, with elevated SIRs for various cancer sites, including prostate (SIR 1.19, 1.14-1.25), breast (SIR 1.77, 1.05-2.80), colon (SIR 1.22, 1.12-1.32) and skin melanoma (SIR 1.44, 1.28-1.60). Conversely, male police officers had a lower risk of lung cancer than the general population (SIR 0.72, 0.66-0.77). In female police officers, the SIR for cancer overall was 1.15 (0.98-1.34), and there was a slight excess of cancers of the breast (SIR 1.25, 0.97-1.59) and colon (SIR 1.21, 0.55-2.30). In conclusion, cancer incidence among the police officers was slightly higher than in the general population. Notably, SIRs were elevated for cancer sites potentially related to night shift work, namely colon, breast and prostate cancer.

Analysis of the distribution characteristics of prostate cancer and its environmental factors in China

The high incidence and mortality and the increasing trend of prostate cancer has been one of the public health issues in many countries and regions. Meanwhile, the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of prostate cancer implies that lifestyle and ecological changes may be associated with prostate cancer, however, sufficient evidence is still lacking. This paper tried to reveal the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of prostate cancer in China and explore the potential associations with related socioeconomic and natural condition factors. Data on prostate cancer incidence and mortality in 182 counties (districts) in mainland China from 2014-2016 were collected, and the distribution characteristics of prostate cancer were analyzed using spatiotemporal scan statistic. Spatial regression models and geodetector method were used to analyze the potential associations between meteorological conditions, socioeconomic development, and prostate cancer incidence and mortality. SaTScan, GeoDa, and GeoDetector were used for the above statistical analyses. The high-risk clusters for prostate cancer incidence and mortality were located in southeastern China, and the low-risk clusters were located in north-central China. Spatial regression models showed that the number of industrial enterprises/km² (incidence: β = 0.322, P < 0.001; mortality: β = 0.179, P < 0.001), GDP (incidence:β = 0.553, P < 0.001; mortality: β = 0.324, P < 0.001), number of beds in medical and health institutions/1000 persons (incidence: β = 0.111, P = 0.005; mortality: β = 0.068, P = 0.021), and urbanization rate (incidence: β = 0.156, P < 0.001; mortality: β = 0.100, P < 0.001) were positively associated with the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer. The urbanization rate (incidence: q = 0.185, P < 0.001; mortality: q = 0.182, P < 0.001) has the greatest explanatory power, and the interaction of all factors was bivariate enhanced or nonlinearly enhanced. The distribution of prostate cancer in China has obvious spatial heterogeneity. The incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer are on the rise, and special plans should be formulated in each region according to local conditions.

The Association between Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Prostate Cancer and Environmental Factors in Mainland China

BACKGROUND

In China, the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer are increasing. In this study, we analyzed the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of prostate cancer incidence and mortality in China and explored the potential associations of socioeconomic, ecological, and meteorologic conditions.

METHODS

Spatial-temporal scan statistics were used to analyze the spatial-temporal patterns of prostate cancer in China from 2012 to 2016. Spatial regression models and the Geodetector method were used to explore the potential associations of anthropogenic and natural factors with prostate cancer.

RESULTS

The incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in China from 2012 to 2016 rapidly increased. The high incidence and mortality clusters were concentrated in the economically developed Yangtze River Delta region along the southeast coast. Among the 14 selected environmental factors, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, population density, comprehensive index of environmental pollution discharge, accessibility of health care resources, urbanization rate, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) had significant positive correlations with prostate cancer incidence and mortality. GDP per capita, urbanization rate, and population density had high explanatory power.

CONCLUSIONS

The high-concentration areas for prostate cancer are located in more economically developed cities. The index of environmental pollution discharge, NO2, and prostate cancer incidence and mortality were positively correlated. The government should advocate increasing the use of clean energy while strengthening the regulation of industrial production to reduce pollutant emissions.

IMPACT

To inform the development of prevention and control strategies for prostate cancer in China.

Residence near industrial complex and cancer incidence: A registry-based cohort of 1,022,637 participants with a follow-up of 21 years, Israel

BACKGROUND

Industrial complex (IC) residence is associated with higher cancer incidence in adults and children. However, the effect on young adults and the residence duration are not well described. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Haifa bay area (HBA) has a major IC area with petrochemical industry complex and many other industries. The objectives of the current study were to estimate the association between IC residence and cancer incidence and to evaluate the effect of the residence duration.

METHODS

This study is a registry-based cohort (N = 1,022,637) with a follow-up of 21 years. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the associations (hazards ratios (HR) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) between HBA residence and incidence of all cancer sites (n = 62,049) and for site-specific cancer types including: lung cancer (n = 5398), bladder cancer (n = 3790), breast cancer (n = 11,310), prostate cancer (n = 6389) skin cancer (n = 4651), pancreatic cancer (n = 2144) and colorectal cancer (n = 8675). We evaluated the effect of the duration of exposure as categories of 7 years for those with 15 years of follow-up.

RESULTS

IC residence was associated with higher risk for all cancer sites (HR:1.09, 95% CI: 1.06-1.12), for site-specific cancer incidence including: lung cancer (HR:1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.23), bladder cancer (HR:1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.23), breast cancer (HR:1.04, 95% CI: 0.98-1.10), prostate cancer (HR:1.07, 95% CI: 0.99-1.16), skin cancer (HR:1.22, 95% CI: 1.12-1.33) and colorectal cancer (HR:1.10, 95%CI: 1.03-1.17). Similar risk was also observed among young adults (HR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.00-1.20). In the analyses for the duration of exposure, IC residence was associated with higher risk for all cancer site for the longest residence duration (15-21 years: HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04-1.13).

CONCLUSIONS

Harmful associations were found between IC residence and incidence of all cancer sites and site-specific cancers types. Our findings add to the limited evidence of associations between IC residence and cancer in young adults.

Cancer status in the Occupied Palestinian Territories: types; incidence; mortality; sex, age, and geography distribution; and possible causes

Cancer is a disease in which some cells of the body grow uncontrollably and occasionally spread to other parts of the body. With a group of more than 100 different types, cancer can start almost anywhere in the body. Defective cells may form a mass called a tumor which can be cancerous (malignant), which grows and spreads to other parts of the body, or benign that can grow but not spread throughout the body. In 2021, more than 10 million people died of cancer worldwide (1 out of 6 deaths). This paper has thoroughly investigated the cancer status in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), in terms of its various types; incidence; mortality; sex, age, and geography distribution; and potential causes. In the OPT, with a population of 5.35 million, cancer mortality was 14% in 2016, being the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases accounting 30.6% of all causes of death. Cancer mortality in the OPT increased by 136% from 2000 to 2016, and by 14% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to other types of cancer in the OPT, its main types are lung (highest in males), breast (highest in females), colorectal (highest in both sexes), and leukemia (highest in children). The high rates of different types of cancer in the OPT can be attributed to various causes, including those related to environmental pollution, nutrition, stress, and lifestyle factors (smoking, lack of activity, increased dependence on technologies, etc.), whereas only 10–30% of cancer cases are attributed to genetics.

Spatial modeling of ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds in Montreal, Canada

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are components of the complex mixture of air pollutants within cities and can cause various adverse health effects. Therefore, it is necessary to understand their spatial distribution for exposure assessment in epidemiological studies.

Ambient air pollution and prostate cancer risk in a population-based Canadian case-control study

Ambient air pollution is a human carcinogen and a possible risk factor for prostate cancer.

Air pollution and molecular changes in age-related diseases

Assessment of the impact that air contaminants have on health is difficult as this is a complex mixture of substances that varies depending on the time and place. There are many studies on the association between air pollution and increased morbidity and mortality. Before the effect of polluted air is manifested at the level of the organs, an impact can be observed at the molecular level. These include some new biomarkers, like a shortening of the mean telomere length in DNA, dysregulation of gene expression caused by microRNA levels or a variation in the copy number of mitochondrial DNA. These changes may predispose individuals to premature development of age-related diseases and consequently to shortening of life. The common attribute, shared by changes at the molecular level and the development of diseases, is the presence of oxidative stress.

Light pollution as a factor in breast and prostate cancer

Light pollution is a global environmental issue that affects photosensitive organisms. For instance, several researchers have recognized melatonin suppression in humans as a direct cause of long-term exposure to high artificial light levels at night. Others have identified low melatonin levels as a risk factor for a higher prevalence of hormone-sensitive cancer. This paper analyzes the association between light pollution, estimated as the emission analysis of satellite worldwide nighttime light collections from 1999 to 2012, and 25,025 breast and 16,119 prostate cancer events from 2003 to 2012. Both types of cancer increased during the study period, but light pollution increased in urban and peri-urban areas and decreased in rural areas. Cumulative light pollution during 5 years showed a positive association with breast cancer but not with prostate cancer. The association between light pollution and breast cancer persisted when adjusted to age-standardized rates with a mean increase of 10.9 events per 100,000 population-year (95% confidence interval 7.0 to 14.8). We conclude that exposure to elevated light pollution levels could be a risk factor for breast cancer in Slovakia. This work can interest researchers who study relationships between atmospheric pollutants and the growing cancer epidemic. The results and the methodology can be extrapolated to any country in the world if data is available.

Calling Attention to the Role of Race-Driven Societal Determinants of Health on Aggressive Tumor Biology: A Focus on Black Americans

Blacks have the highest incidence and mortality from most cancers. The reasons for these disparities remain unclear. Blacks are exposed to adverse social determinants because of historic and contemporary racist polices; however, how these determinants affect the disparities that Blacks experience is understudied. As a result of discriminatory community policies, like redlining, Blacks have higher exposure to air pollution and neighborhood deprivation. Studies investigating how these factors affect tumor biology are emerging. We highlight the literature that connects racism-related community exposure to the tumor biology in breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Further investigations that clarify the link between adverse social determinants that result from systemic racism and aggressive tumor biology are required if health equity is to be achieved. Without recognition that racism is a public health risk with carcinogenic impact, health care delivery and cancer care will never achieve excellence. In response, health systems ought to establish corrective actions to improve Black population health and bring medical justice to marginalized racialized groups.

Risk and Resilience: How Is the Health of Older Adults and Immigrant People Living in Canada Impacted by Climate- and Air Pollution-Related Exposures?

BACKGROUND

In the rapidly shifting Canadian climate, an ageing population, and increased migration, a greater understanding of how local climate and air pollution hazards impact older adults and immigrant populations will be necessary for mitigating and adapting to adverse health impacts.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the reported health impacts of climate change and air pollution exposures in older adults and immigrant people living in Canada, identify known factors influencing risk and resilience in these populations and gaps in the literature.

METHODS

We searched for research focused on older adults and immigrants living in Canada, published from 2010 onward, where the primary exposures were related to climate or air pollution. We extracted data on setting, exposures, health outcomes, and other relevant contextual factors.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We identified 52 eligible studies, most focused in Ontario and Quebec. Older people in Canada experience health risks due to climate and air pollution exposures. The extent of the risk depends on multiple factors. We found little information about the climate- and air pollution-related health impacts experienced by immigrant communities.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research about climate- and air pollution-related exposures, health, and which factors promote or reduce resiliency in Canada's older adults and immigrant communities is necessary.

Observational Study of the Association between Air Cadmium Exposure and Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness at Diagnosis among a Nationwide Retrospective Cohort of 230,540 Patients in the United States

Although studies have investigated cadmium and prostate cancer (PC) incidence and mortality, the role of cadmium in PC progression might be more clinically relevant. In this observational study, we assessed the association between air cadmium exposure and PC aggressiveness, with PC stage defined as metastatic or localized and Gleason grade defined as high (Gleason score ≥ 8) or low (Gleason score ≤ 6) among PC patients from the 2010–2014 US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The 2005 and 2011 National Air Toxics Assessment provided county-level air cadmium concentrations. Results were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and were calculated using random intercept mixed effects logistic regression, comparing the 80th to 20th percentile of exposure. We adjusted for age, sociodemographic status, smoking prevalence, and overall air quality at the county level, and stratified by race, age, and degree of urbanization. The cohort consisted of 230,540 cases from 493 counties. Strong associations were observed in nonmetropolitan, urban areas: (OR 1.26, CI 1.14–1.39) for metastatic vs. localized and (OR 1.41, CI 1.27–1.57) for high- vs. low-grade PC where 40 million Americans reside. This study may be hypothesis-generating to inform future studies and public health measures.

Personal exposures to traffic-related air pollution in three Canadian bus transit systems: the Urban Transportation Exposure Study

BACKGROUND

Exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with increased incidence of several cardiopulmonary diseases. The elevated TRAP exposures of commuting environments can result in significant contributions to daily exposures.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the personal TRAP exposures (UFPs, BC, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀) of the bus transit systems of Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, Canada. Personal exposure models estimated the contribution of bus commuting to daily TRAP exposures. Associations between bus type and riding exposures and bus stop/station type and waiting exposures were estimated.

RESULTS

Bus commuting (4.6% of the day) contributed ~59%(SD = 15%), 60%(SD = 20%), and 57%(SD = 18%) of daily PM_2.5-Ba and 70%(SD = 19%), 64%(SD = 15%), and 70%(SD = 15%) of daily PM_2.5-Fe, in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, respectively. Enclosed bus stations were found to be hotspots of PM_2.5 and BC. Buses with diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and hybrid diesel/electric propulsion were found to have significantly lower in-bus PM_2.5, UFP, and BC relative to 1983-2003 diesel buses in each city with the exception of UFP in Vancouver.

SIGNIFICANCE

Personal exposures for traffic-related air pollutants were assessed for three Canadian bus transit systems. In each system, bus commuting was estimated to contribute significantly toward daily exposures of fine-fraction Ba and Fe as well as BC. Exposures while riding were associated with bus type for several pollutants in each city. These associations suggest the use of hybrid diesel/electric buses equipped with diesel particulate filters have improved air quality for riders.

Evaluation of a Meta-Analysis of Ambient Air Quality as a Risk Factor for Asthma Exacerbation

Background: An irreproducibility crisis currently afflicts a wide range of scientific disciplines, including public health and biomedical science. A study was undertaken to assess the reliability of a meta-analysis examining whether air quality components (carbon monoxide, particulate matter 10 µm and 2.5 µm (PM10 and PM2.5), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone) are risk factors for asthma exacerbation. Methods: The number of statistical tests and models were counted in 17 randomly selected base papers from 87 used in the meta-analysis. Confidence intervals from all 87 base papers were converted to p-values. p-value plots for each air component were constructed to evaluate the effect heterogeneity of the p-values. Results: The number of statistical tests possible in the 17 selected base papers was large, median = 15,360 (interquartile range = 1536–40,960), in comparison to results presented. Each p-value plot showed a two-component mixture with small p-values < 0.001 while other p-values appeared random (p-values > 0.05). Given potentially large numbers of statistical tests conducted in the 17 selected base papers, p-hacking cannot be ruled out as explanations for small p-values. Conclusions: Our interpretation of the meta-analysis is that random p-values indicating null associations are more plausible and the meta-analysis is unlikely to replicate in the absence of bias.

Analysis of air pollutants in Covid 19 pandemic lockdown- a case study of Bareilly, UP, India

The contemporary world is dealing with the rise of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Globally, as on September 14, 2020, there have been 28,918,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 922,252 deaths, reported to WHO with the cases still on the rise. In India, as a preventive measure, complete lockdown was imposed all over the country from 25th March 2020 which has significantly reduced the vehicular movement. Bareilly was reported among the seven most air polluted cities of Uttar Pradesh where PM10 was almost four times the annual standard of 60 ​μg/m³ averaging 226 ​μg/m³ for the year 2015 and 2016.The city Bareilly of State Uttar Pradesh do not have too much of industries and therefore industries cannot be blamed. Alternatively, vehicular or construction emission sources could not be ruled out and it can be concluded that primary sources of air pollution could be either automobiles or incomplete construction work. The present study is focused on monitoring of air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, SO₂ and NO₂, at Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh and analyzed during the lockdown period due to pandemic COVID 19 from three monitoring stations. In the first week of lockdown, i.e. from March 25, 2020 to March 31, 2020 the PM10 and PM2.5 concentration averaged 60 ​μg/m³ and 47 ​μg/m³ respectively which is below the NAAQS average limits of 80 ​μg/m³ and 60 ​μg/m³ respectively. Whereas the concentrations of gaseous pollutants SO₂ and NO₂ was found to be much below the monthly NAAQS limits of 60 ​μg/m³ averaging 21 ​μg/m³ and 15 ​μg/m³ respectively. In April 2020, the vehicular movement was minimum and the level of air pollutants, PM10, PM2.5, SO₂ and NO₂, were found to be 54 ​μg/m³, 41 ​μg/m³, 19 ​μg/m³ and 14 ​μg/m³ respectively which is minimum in the six months of study from January 2020 to June 2020 and lowest in comparison to the air quality data of last 25 years.It can therefore be concluded that vehicular emissions contribute significantly for air pollution in Bareilly city.

PCLiON: An Ontology for Data Standardization and Sharing of Prostate Cancer Associated Lifestyles

BACKGROUND

Researches on Lifestyle medicine (LM) have emerged in recent years to garner wide attention. Prostate cancer (PCa) could be prevented and treated by positive lifestyles, but the association between lifestyles and PCa is always personalized.

OBJECTIVES

In order to solve the heterogeneity and diversity of different data types related to PCa, establish a standardized lifestyle ontology, promote the exchange and sharing of disease lifestyle knowledge, and support text mining and knowledge discovery.

METHODS

The overall construction of PCLiON was created in accordance with the principles and methodology of ontology construction. Following the principles of evidence-based medicine, we screened and integrated the lifestyles and their related attributes. Protégé was used to construct and validate the semantic framework. All annotations in PCLiON were based on SNOMED CT, NCI Thesaurus, the Cochrane Library and FooDB, etc. HTML5 and ASP.NET was used to develop the independent Web page platform and corresponding intelligent terminal application. The PCLiON also uploaded to the National Center for Biomedical Ontology BioPortal.

RESULTS

PCLiON integrates 397 lifestyles and lifestyle-related factors associated with PCa, and is the first of its kind for a specific disease. It contains 320 attribute annotations and 11 object attributes. The logical relationship and completeness meet the ontology requirements. Qualitative analysis was carried out for 329 terms in PCLiON, including factors which are protective, risk or associated but functional unclear, etc. PCLiON is publicly available both at http://pcaontology.net/PCaLifeStyleDefault.aspx and https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/PCALION.

CONCLUSIONS

Through the bilingual online platforms, complex lifestyle research data can be transformed into standardized, reliable and responsive knowledge, which can promote the shared-decision making (SDM) on lifestyle intervention and assist patients in lifestyle self-management toward the goal of PCa targeted prevention.

Identifying the Transcriptional Response of Cancer and Inflammation-Related Genes in Lung Cells in Relation to Ambient Air Chemical Mixtures in Houston, Texas

Atmospheric pollution represents a complex mixture of air chemicals that continually interact and transform, making it difficult to accurately evaluate associated toxicity responses representative of real-world exposure. This study leveraged data from a previously published article and reevaluated lung cell transcriptional response induced by outdoor atmospheric pollution mixtures using field-based exposure conditions in the industrialized Houston Ship Channel. The tested hypothesis was that individual and co-occurring chemicals in the atmosphere relate to altered expression of critical genes involved in inflammation and cancer-related processes in lung cells. Human lung cells were exposed at an air-liquid interface to ambient air mixtures for 4 h, with experiments replicated across 5 days. Real-time monitoring of primary and secondary gas-phase pollutants, as well as other atmospheric conditions, was simultaneously conducted. Transcriptional analysis of exposed cells identified critical genes showing differential expression associated with both individual and chemical mixtures. The individual pollutant identified with the largest amount of associated transcriptional response was benzene. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRFN1) were identified as key upstream transcription factor regulators of the cellular response to benzene. This study is among the first to measure lung cell transcriptional responses in relation to real-world, gas-phase air mixtures.

The association between air pollution and cancers: controversial evidence of a systematic review

There are inconsistent reports on the association between air pollution and cancers. This systematic review was, therefore, conducted to ascertain the relationship between air pollution and some cancers. This is a systematic review study, which all articles published in this area were extracted from January 1, 1950 to December 31, 2018 from Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Direct, Google scholar. Searching was performed independently by two search-method experts. The required data were extracted from the articles by an author-made questionnaire. Forty-eight articles were investigated. Evidence linking air pollution to some cancers is limited. Leukemia had the highest association with exposure to various air pollutants and bladder cancer had the lowest association. It is noteworthy that the specific type of pollutants in all studies was not specified. Based on the findings, the results are contradictory, and the role of air pollution in some cancers cannot be supported. Accordingly, studies are recommended to be performed at the individual level or multifactorial studies to specifically investigate the relationship between air pollution and these types of cancers. In this way, the role of air pollution in the incidence of these cancers can be determined more accurately.

Data-driven translational prostate cancer research: from biomarker discovery to clinical decision

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignant tumor with increasing incidence and high heterogeneity among males worldwide. In the era of big data and artificial intelligence, the paradigm of biomarker discovery is shifting from traditional experimental and small data-based identification toward big data-driven and systems-level screening. Complex interactions between genetic factors and environmental effects provide opportunities for systems modeling of PCa genesis and evolution. We hereby review the current research frontiers in informatics for PCa clinical translation. First, the heterogeneity and complexity in PCa development and clinical theranostics are introduced to raise the concern for PCa systems biology studies. Then biomarkers and risk factors ranging from molecular alternations to clinical phenotype and lifestyle changes are explicated for PCa personalized management. Methodologies and applications for multi-dimensional data integration and computational modeling are discussed. The future perspectives and challenges for PCa systems medicine and holistic healthcare are finally provided.

Occupation as a predictor of prostate cancer screening behaviour in Canada

OBJECTIVES

If prostate cancer screening practices relate to occupation, this would have important implications when studying the aetiological role of workplace exposures on prostate cancer. We identified variations in screening by occupation among men in Montreal, Canada (2005-2012).

METHODS

Prostate specific antigen testing and digital rectal examination (ever-screened and frequency of screening, previous five years) were examined among population controls from the Prostate Cancer & Environment Study. Face-to-face interviews elicited lifestyle and occupational histories. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of ever-screening for the longest-held occupation, adjusting for potential confounders. Negative binomial models were used to examine relationships with screening frequency.

RESULTS

Among 1989 controls, 81% reported ever having had a prostate specific antigen test, and 77% a digital rectal examination. Approximately 40% of men reported having a prostate specific antigen test once a year, on average. Compared with those in management or administrative jobs, men in primary industry (odds ratio 0.26, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.65), construction (0.44, 0.25-0.79), machining (0.45, 0.21-0.97), and teaching (0.37, 0.20-0.70) were less likely to have undergone prostate specific antigen screening. Results were similar when considering the most recent job.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight substantial variations in prostate cancer screening by occupation. Men in occupations where carcinogen exposures are more common are less likely to participate in prostate screening activities. This could be an important source of bias, and occupational studies of prostate cancer should account for screening practices.

Long-term exposure to air pollution and the risk of non-lung cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies

AIMS

Several meta-analyses of observational studies report a long-term correlation between air pollution and the risk of cancer, particularly lung carcinoma. The aim of this study was to review and quantify evidence for an association between air pollution and the risk of developing non-lung cancers.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and the reference lists of the included studies as well as those recorded in previous meta-analyses conducted before January 2019. A random-effects model was used to derive overall risk estimates per pollutant.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies, including 5 case-control and 15 prospective cohort studies, were used in the final analysis. The risk of developing non-lung cancer was 1.09 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.18, I² = 72.9%) per NO₂ increases of 10 µg/m³. There was also a significant association between exposure to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ and the risk of non-lung cancer when the male and female populations were combined (pooled odds ratio/relative risk (OR/RR) = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11-1.34; I² = 0.0% and pooled OR/RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05-1.52; I² = 43.9%, respectively). Regarding the type of cancer, significant harmful effects of PM_2.5 were observed for liver cancer populations (pooled OR/RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10-1.32; I² = 0.0%). Different types of cancer were positively associated with the incidence of non-lung cancer and PM₁₀ in the random-effect meta-regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term exposure to air pollutants appears to be associated with an increased risk of non-lung cancer. Care should be taken in interpretation, because the results for specific cancers were restricted.

Cancer Risk from Exposure to Particulate Matter and Ozone According to Obesity and Health-Related Behaviors: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence of an association between cancer risk and long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter <10 μm (PM₁₀) and ozone (O₃), according to obesity and health-related behaviors.

METHODS

In the 2012 Korean Community Health Survey, survey data on socioeconomic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and previous cancer history were collected from 100,867 participants. Daily average concentrations of PM₁₀ and O₃ (2003-2012) were obtained from the Korean Air Pollutants Emission Service. The cancer risks for interquartile increases in PM₁₀ and O₃ were evaluated using multiple logistic regression and were stratified by age, sex, obesity, and health-related behaviors.

RESULTS

Increased cancer risk was found among obese subjects aged ≥50 years after adjusting for confounding factors [PM₁₀: ≥60 years: OR 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.74; 50-60 years: OR 1.40, CI 1.01-1.96; O₃: ≥60 years: OR 1.12, CI 1.04-1.20; 50-60 years: OR 1.20, CI 1.08-1.33]. However, we did not observe similar trends in the nonobese subjects. Among obese subjects aged ≥50 who had been exposed to PM₁₀, men, ever smokers, and inactive subjects were at increased cancer risk. Regarding O₃, the cancer risk was significantly higher among obese adults >50 years old, regardless of sex or health-related behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term exposure to PM₁₀ and O₃ was found to increase cancer risk. In particular, the risk differed according to obesity status, age, sex, and health-related behaviors.

IMPACT

The effect of air pollution on cancer risk was compounded by obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity among subjects over 50 years old.

Outdoor air pollution, green space, and cancer incidence in Saxony: a semi-individual cohort study

BACKGROUND

There are a few epidemiological studies that (1) link increased ambient air pollution (AP) with an increase in lung cancer incidence rates and (2) investigate whether residing in green spaces could be protective against cancer. However, it is completely unclear whether other forms of cancer are also affected by AP and if residential green spaces could lower cancer incidence rates in general. Therefore, the objective was to estimate whether AP and green space are associated with several cancer types.

METHODS

The analysis was based on routine health care data from around 1.9 million people from Saxony who were free of cancer in 2008 and 2009. Incident cancer cases (2010-2014) of mouth and throat, skin (non-melanoma skin cancer - NMSC), prostate, breast, and colorectum were defined as: (1) one inpatient diagnosis, or (2) two outpatient diagnoses in two different quarters within one year and a specific treatment or death within two quarters after the diagnosis. Exposures, derived from freely available 3rd party data, included particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (N02) as well as green space (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index - NDVI). Associations between air pollutants, green space, and cancer incidence were assessed by multilevel Poisson models. Age, sex, physician contacts, short- and long-term unemployment, population density, and having an alcohol-related disorder were considered as potential confounders.

RESULTS

Three thousand one hundred seven people developed mouth and throat cancer, 33,178 NMSC, 9611 prostate cancer, 9577 breast cancer, and 11,975 colorectal cancer during the follow-up period (2010-2014). An increase in PM10 of 10 μg/m3 was associated with a 53% increase in relative risk (RR) of mouth and throat cancer and a 52% increase in RR of NMSC. Prostate and breast cancer were modestly associated with PM10 with an increase in RR of 23 and 19%, respectively. The associations with N02 were in the same direction as PM10 but the effect estimates were much lower (7-24%). A 10% increase in NDVI was most protective of mouth and throat cancer (- 11% RR) and of NMSC (- 16% RR). Colorectal cancer was not affected by any of the exposures.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to the studies carried out so far, this study was able to provide evidence that higher ambient AP levels increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer as well as of NMSC and that a higher residential green space level might have a protective effect for NMSC in areas with low to moderate UV intensity. Nevertheless, we cannot rule out residual confounding by socioeconomic or smoking status.

Outdoor air pollution, green space, and cancer incidence in Saxony: a semi-individual cohort study

BACKGROUND

There are a few epidemiological studies that (1) link increased ambient air pollution (AP) with an increase in lung cancer incidence rates and (2) investigate whether residing in green spaces could be protective against cancer. However, it is completely unclear whether other forms of cancer are also affected by AP and if residential green spaces could lower cancer incidence rates in general. Therefore, the objective was to estimate whether AP and green space are associated with several cancer types.

METHODS

The analysis was based on routine health care data from around 1.9 million people from Saxony who were free of cancer in 2008 and 2009. Incident cancer cases (2010-2014) of mouth and throat, skin (non-melanoma skin cancer - NMSC), prostate, breast, and colorectum were defined as: (1) one inpatient diagnosis, or (2) two outpatient diagnoses in two different quarters within one year and a specific treatment or death within two quarters after the diagnosis. Exposures, derived from freely available 3rd party data, included particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM₁₀) and nitrogen dioxide (N0₂) as well as green space (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index - NDVI). Associations between air pollutants, green space, and cancer incidence were assessed by multilevel Poisson models. Age, sex, physician contacts, short- and long-term unemployment, population density, and having an alcohol-related disorder were considered as potential confounders.

RESULTS

Three thousand one hundred seven people developed mouth and throat cancer, 33,178 NMSC, 9611 prostate cancer, 9577 breast cancer, and 11,975 colorectal cancer during the follow-up period (2010-2014). An increase in PM₁₀ of 10 μg/m³ was associated with a 53% increase in relative risk (RR) of mouth and throat cancer and a 52% increase in RR of NMSC. Prostate and breast cancer were modestly associated with PM₁₀ with an increase in RR of 23 and 19%, respectively. The associations with N0₂ were in the same direction as PM₁₀ but the effect estimates were much lower (7-24%). A 10% increase in NDVI was most protective of mouth and throat cancer (- 11% RR) and of NMSC (- 16% RR). Colorectal cancer was not affected by any of the exposures.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to the studies carried out so far, this study was able to provide evidence that higher ambient AP levels increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer as well as of NMSC and that a higher residential green space level might have a protective effect for NMSC in areas with low to moderate UV intensity. Nevertheless, we cannot rule out residual confounding by socioeconomic or smoking status.

Exploring nighttime road traffic noise: A comprehensive predictive surface for Toronto, Canada

Road traffic noise can adversely impact the health of city residents, particularly when it occurs at night. The objective of this study was to evaluate nighttime traffic ambient noise in Toronto, Canada using measured and model-estimated noise levels. Road traffic noise was measured at 767 locations over 3 seasonal sampling campaigns between June 2012 and October 2013 to fully capture noise variability in Toronto. Temporal and campaign-specific spatial models, developed using the noise measurements, were used to build a final predictive surface. The surface was capable of estimating noise across the city over a 24-hr time frame. Measured and surface-estimated noise levels were compared with guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Province of Ontario to identify areas where noise may pose a health risk. Measured mean nighttime noise in Toronto exceeded World Health Organization (40 dBA) guidelines and mean daytime noise exceeded provincial (55 dBA) guidelines. The final predictive surface, incorporating spatial variables and daily cycles in noise levels, provides noise estimates geocoded for the entire study area. This tool could be used for epidemiological studies and to inform noise mitigation efforts. Based on surface-estimated noise levels during the quietest time of night (2 a.m.-2:30 a.m.), 100% of Toronto has nighttime noise exceeding 40 dBA (mean = 57 dBA, range = 49-110 dBA). A predictive surface was developed to estimate geocoded noise levels and facilitate further study of noise in Toronto. This tool can be used to assess road traffic noise, particularly at night, as an environmental health hazard.

Air pollution from industrial waste gas emissions is associated with cancer incidences in Shanghai, China

Outdoor air pollution may be associated with cancer risk at different sites. This study sought to investigate outdoor air pollution from waste gas emission effects on multiple cancer incidences in a retrospective population-based study in Shanghai, China. Trends in cancer incidence for males and females and trends in waste gas emissions for the total waste gas, industrial waste gas, other waste gas, SO₂, and soot were investigated between 1983 and 2010 in Shanghai, China. Regression models after adjusting for confounding variables were constructed to estimate associations between waste gas emissions and multiple cancer incidences in the whole group and stratified by sex, Engel coefficient, life expectancy, and number of doctors per 10,000 populations to further explore whether changes of waste gas emissions were associated with multiple cancer incidences. More than 550,000 new cancer patients were enrolled and reviewed. Upward trends in multiple cancer incidences for males and females and in waste gas emissions were observed from 1983 to 2010 in Shanghai, China. Waste gas emissions came mainly from industrial waste gas. Waste gas emissions was significantly positively associated with cancer incidence of salivary gland, small intestine, colorectal, anus, gallbladder, thoracic organs, connective and soft tissue, prostate, kidney, bladder, thyroid, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, lymphatic leukemia, myeloid leukemia, and other unspecified sites (all p < 0.05). Negative association between waste gas emissions and the esophagus cancer incidence was observed (p < 0.05). The results of the whole group were basically consistent with the results of the stratified analysis. The results from this retrospective population-based study suggest ambient air pollution from waste gas emissions was associated with multiple cancer incidences.

Chronic exposure to traffic-related air pollution and cancer incidence among 10,000 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions: A historical prospective study

Background Exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is considered to have a carcinogenic effect. The authors previously reported a nonsignificant association between TRAP and cancer risk in a relatively small cohort of myocardial infarction survivors. This study assessed whether TRAP exposure is associated with subsequent cancer in a large cohort of coronary patients. Methods & results Consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions in a major medical centre in central Israel from 2004 to 2014 were followed for cancer through 2015. Residential levels of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) - a proxy for TRAP - were estimated based on a high-resolution national land use regression model. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to study relationships with cancer. Among 12,784 candidate patients, 9816 had available exposure data and no history of cancer (mean age, 68 years; 77% men). During a median (25th-75th percentiles) follow-up of 7.0 (3.9-9.3) years, 773 incident cases of cancer (8%) were diagnosed. In a multivariable-adjusted model, a 10-ppb increase in mean NO_x exposure was associated with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.15) for all-site cancer and 1.16 (95% CI 1.05-1.28) for cancers previously linked to TRAP (lung, breast, prostate, kidney and bladder). A stronger association was observed for breast cancer (HR = 1.43; 95% CI 1.12-1.83). Associations were slightly strengthened after limiting the cohort to patients with more precise exposure assessment. Conclusion Coronary patients exposed to TRAP are at increased risk of several types of cancer, particularly lung, prostate and breast. As these cancers are amenable to prevention strategies, identifying highly exposed patients may provide an opportunity to improve clinical care.

Prostate cancer in firefighting and police work: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate potential associations between firefighting and police occupations, and prostate cancer incidence and mortality.

METHODS

Original epidemiological studies published from 1980 to 2017 were identified through PubMed and Web of Science. Studies were included if they contained specific job titles for ever/never firefighting and police work and associated prostate cancer risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Study quality was assessed using a 20-point checklist. Prostate cancer meta-risk estimates (mRE) and corresponding 95% CIs were calculated for firefighting and police work separately and by various study characteristics using random effects models. Between-study heterogeneity was evaluated using the I² score. Publication bias was assessed using Begg's and Egger's tests.

RESULTS

A total of 26 firefighter and 12 police studies were included in the meta-analysis, with quality assessment scores ranging from 7 to 19 points. For firefighter studies, the prostate cancer incidence mRE was 1.17 (95% CI = 1.08-1.28, I² = 72%) and the mortality mRE was 1.12 (95% CI = 0.92-1.36, I² = 50%). The mRE for police incidence studies was 1.14 (95% CI = 1.02-1.28; I² = 33%); for mortality studies, the mRE was 1.08 (95% CI = 0.80-1.45; I² = 0%). By study design, mREs for both firefighter and police studies were similar to estimates of incidence and mortality.

CONCLUSION

Small excess risks of prostate cancer were observed from firefighter studies with moderate to substantial heterogeneity and a relatively small number of police studies, respectively. There is a need for further studies to examine police occupations and to assess unique and shared exposures in firefighting and police work.

Capturing the sensitivity of land-use regression models to short-term mobile monitoring campaigns using air pollution micro-sensors

The development of reliable measures of exposure to traffic-related air pollution is crucial for the evaluation of the health effects of transportation. Land-use regression (LUR) techniques have been widely used for the development of exposure surfaces, however these surfaces are often highly sensitive to the data collected. With the rise of inexpensive air pollution sensors paired with GPS devices, we witness the emergence of mobile data collection protocols. For the same urban area, can we achieve a 'universal' model irrespective of the number of locations and sampling visits? Can we trade the temporal representation of fixed-point sampling for a larger spatial extent afforded by mobile monitoring? This study highlights the challenges of short-term mobile sampling campaigns in terms of the resulting exposure surfaces. A mobile monitoring campaign was conducted in 2015 in Montreal; nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels at 1395 road segments were measured under repeated visits. We developed LUR models based on sub-segments, categorized in terms of the number of visits per road segment. We observe that LUR models were highly sensitive to the number of road segments and to the number of visits per road segment. The associated exposure surfaces were also highly dissimilar.

Prostate-specific antigen and its derivatives in young adults occupationally exposed to quarry pollutants in southeastern Nigeria

To evaluate the level of total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and effect of duration of exposure to pollutants in quarry workers, 5 mls of blood sample was collected from participants: 72 male quarry workers exposed to quarry pollutants and 72 unexposed controls. PSA estimations were done using the principle of ELISA. Mean total PSA, free PSA, and free-total PSA ratio levels of quarry workers did not differ from those of controls and was below the cutoff for the risk of prostate diseases. Higher mean total PSA and free PSA were observed in workers exposed for > 3 years compared to the unexposed control and workers exposed for ≤ 3 years. Age-adjusted linear regression indicated significant association (R = 0.515; p < .001) between the duration of exposure and total PSA level in quarry workers. This study suggests that longer duration of exposure to the quarry pollutants may elevate PSA level if precautions are not taken to minimize dose of exposure.

Particulate Matter (Fine Particle) and Urologic Diseases

Particulate matter (PM) has been found to damage vital body organs, including the lungs and heart, through vascular damage and oxidative stress. Recently, renal function and chronic urologic diseases have also been found to be related to PM. To investigate this, we reviewed the characteristics of PM related to renal toxicity, including recent studies on the associations of urologic diseases with PM. PM can include constituents that cause renal toxicity, such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and crystalline silica, which result in renal tubular or interstitial damage. Since 2008, 7 studies have evaluated the renal effects of PM. Two prospective cohort studies and a quantitative study of consecutive patients showed that PM may be related to decreased renal function, as shown by the estimated glomerular filtration rate of diseased or aged participants. Two cross-sectional studies found an association between PM and chronic kidney disease. One of those studies identified the specific renal diseases of immunoglobulin A nephropathy and membranous nephropathy. Two studies that analyzed renal cancer and PM showed no evidence that renal cancer is related to PM. Nine studies were evaluated regarding the relationship of bladder and prostate cancer with PM. The evidence for an association of PM with bladder and prostate cancer is still inconclusive. Although some recently published studies have shown a significant relationship, the causal relationship is not clear. Further well-designed studies on specific renal diseases are required.

Ambient Air Pollution and Cancer Mortality in the Cancer Prevention Study II

BACKGROUND

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified both outdoor air pollution and airborne particulate matter as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) for lung cancer. There may be associations with cancer at other sites; however, the epidemiological evidence is limited.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to clarify whether ambient air pollution is associated with specific types of cancer other than lung cancer by examining associations of ambient air pollution with nonlung cancer death in the Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II).

METHODS

Analysis included 623,048 CPS-II participants who were followed for 22 y (1982-2004). Modeled estimates of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5µm (PM2.5) (1999-2004), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (2006), and ozone (O3) (2002-2004) concentrations were linked to the participant residence at enrollment. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate associations per each fifth percentile-mean increment with cancer mortality at 29 anatomic sites, adjusted for individual and ecological covariates.

RESULTS

We observed 43,320 nonlung cancer deaths. PM2.5 was significantly positively associated with death from cancers of the kidney {adjusted hazard ratio (HR) per 4.4 μg/m3=1.14 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.27]} and bladder [HR=1.13 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.23)]. NO2 was positively associated with colorectal cancer mortality [HR per 6.5 ppb=1.06 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.10). The results were similar in two-pollutant models including PM2.5 and NO2 and in three-pollutant models with O3. We observed no statistically significant positive associations with death from other types of cancer based on results from adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this large prospective study suggest that ambient air pollution was not associated with death from most nonlung cancers, but associations with kidney, bladder, and colorectal cancer death warrant further investigation. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1249.

Spatial variations in ambient ultrafine particle concentrations and the risk of incident prostate cancer: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Diesel exhaust contains large numbers of ultrafine particles (UFPs, <0.1µm) and is a recognized human carcinogen. However, epidemiological studies have yet to evaluate the relationship between UFPs and cancer incidence.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study of UFPs and incident prostate cancer in Montreal, Canada. Cases were identified from all main Francophone hospitals in the Montreal area between 2005 and 2009. Population controls were identified from provincial electoral lists of French Montreal residents and frequency-matched to cases using 5-year age groups. UFP exposures were estimated using a land use regression model. Exposures were assigned to residential locations at the time of diagnosis/recruitment as well as approximately 10-years earlier to consider potential latency between exposure and disease onset. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated per interquartile range (IQR) increase in UFPs (approximately 4000 particles/cm³) using logistic regression models adjusting for individual-level and ecological covariates.

RESULTS

Ambient UFP concentrations were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.19) in fully adjusted models when exposures were assigned to residences 10-years prior to diagnosis. This risk estimate increased slightly (OR=1.17, 95% CI; 1.01, 1.35) when modeled as a non-linear natural spline function. A smaller increased risk (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.11) was observed when exposures were assigned to residences at the time of diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to ambient UFPs may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Future studies are needed to replicate this finding as this is the first study to evaluate this relationship.

Comparison of spatiotemporal prediction models of daily exposure of individuals to ambient nitrogen dioxide and ozone in Montreal, Canada

BACKGROUND

In previous studies investigating the short-term health effects of ambient air pollution the exposure metric that is often used is the daily average across monitors, thus assuming that all individuals have the same daily exposure. Studies that incorporate space-time exposures of individuals are essential to further our understanding of the short-term health effects of ambient air pollution.

OBJECTIVES

As part of a longitudinal cohort study of the acute effects of air pollution that incorporated subject-specific information and medical histories of subjects throughout the follow-up, the purpose of this study was to develop and compare different prediction models using data from fixed-site monitors and other monitoring campaigns to estimate daily, spatially-resolved concentrations of ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) of participants' residences in Montreal, 1991-2002.

METHODS

We used the following methods to predict spatially-resolved daily concentrations of O₃ and NO₂ for each geographic region in Montreal (defined by three-character postal code areas): (1) assigning concentrations from the nearest monitor; (2) spatial interpolation using inverse-distance weighting; (3) back-extrapolation from a land-use regression model from a dense monitoring survey, and; (4) a combination of a land-use and Bayesian maximum entropy model. We used a variety of indices of agreement to compare estimates of exposure assigned from the different methods, notably scatterplots of pairwise predictions, distribution of differences and computation of the absolute agreement intraclass correlation (ICC). For each pairwise prediction, we also produced maps of the ICCs by these regions indicating the spatial variability in the degree of agreement.

RESULTS

We found some substantial differences in agreement across pairs of methods in daily mean predicted concentrations of O₃ and NO₂. On a given day and postal code area the difference in the concentration assigned could be as high as 131ppb for O₃ and 108ppb for NO₂. For both pollutants, better agreement was found between predictions from the nearest monitor and the inverse-distance weighting interpolation methods, with ICCs of 0.89 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89, 0.89) for O₃ and 0.81 (95%CI: 0.80, 0.81) for NO₂, respectively. For this pair of methods the maximum difference on a given day and postal code area was 36ppb for O₃ and 74ppb for NO₂. The back-extrapolation method showed a higher degree of disagreement with the nearest monitor approach, inverse-distance weighting interpolation, and the Bayesian maximum entropy model, which were strongly constrained by the sparse monitoring network. The maps showed that the patterns of agreement differed across the postal code areas and the variability depended on the pair of methods compared and the pollutants. For O₃, but not NO₂, postal areas showing greater disagreement were mostly located near the city centre and along highways, especially in maps involving the back-extrapolation method.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of the substantial differences in daily concentrations of O₃ and NO₂ predicted by the different methods, we suggest that analyses of the health effects from air pollution should make use of multiple exposure assessment methods. Although we cannot make any recommendations as to which is the most valid method, models that make use of higher spatially resolved data, such as from dense exposure surveys or from high spatial resolution satellite data, likely provide the most valid estimates.

Residential greenness and risk of prostate cancer: A case-control study in Montreal, Canada

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest that exposure to greenness favors several health outcomes. We assessed whether living in the proximity of greener areas was related to prostate cancer incidence in a population-based case-control study in Montreal, Canada.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Interviews eliciting lifetime addresses were conducted with 1933 prostate cancer cases diagnosed in 2005-2009 and 1994 population controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated the association between residential greenness, both at recruitment (2005-2009) and about ten years prior (1996), defined by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) around the home, and prostate cancer risk. Three models were developed adjusting for age, individual characteristics, and individual and ecological characteristics, estimating relative risk in relation to an interquartile range (IQR) increase of the NDVI.

RESULTS

We observed inverse associations between greenness measured within home buffers of 150m, 300m, 500m and 1000m, at both time points, and risk of prostate cancer, independently of individual and ecological characteristics. For instance, using a buffer of 300m, the OR for an IQR increase of 0.11 in NDVI at the time of recruitment was 0.82 (95%CI 0.74-0.92). The corresponding OR for an IQR increase of 0.15 in NDVI in 1996 was 0.86 (95%CI 0.74-1.00). There were little differences in risks according to buffer size, the time point of exposure, when considering prostate cancer aggressiveness, or when restricting controls to men recently screened for prostate cancer to reduce the likelihood of undiagnosed cancer among them.

CONCLUSION

Men living in greener areas, either recently or about a decade earlier, had lower risks of prostate cancer, independently of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. These observations are novel and require confirmation.