Risk of breast cancer associated with long-term exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) air pollution: Evidence from the French E3N cohort study. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amadou, Amina; Praud, Delphine; Coudon, Thomas; Deygas, Floriane; Grassot, Leny; Faure, Elodie; Couvidat, Florian; Caudeville, Julien; Bessagnet, Bertrand; Salizzoni, Pietro; Gulliver, John; Leffondré, Karen; Severi, Gianluca; Mancini, Francesca Romana; Fervers, Béatrice
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 149(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Airborne benzo[a]pyrene -- Breast cancer -- Residential history -- Menopausal transition -- Hormone receptor status -- Differentiation grade; AFP age at first full-term pregnancy -- BaP Benzo[a]pyrene -- BMI body mass index -- BC breast cancer -- CIs confidence intervals -- CNIL commission for data protection and privacy -- CTM Chemistry Transport Model -- DM dispersion modelling -- E3N Etude Epidémiologique auprès de femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale -- ER estrogen receptor -- EPIC European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition -- EDC endocrine-disrupting-chemicals -- FHBC family history of breast cancer -- IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer -- MHT menopausal hormone therapy -- MET metabolic equivalent task -- IGN National Geographic Institute -- ORs odds ratios -- PR progesterone receptor -- SD standard deviation -- TNM tumor-node-metastasis; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106399
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Highlights: First epidemiological study with extended annual exposure data (up to 22 years). Airborne BaP exposure was significantly associated with overall breast cancer risk. The association was greater among women who underwent menopausal transition. Positive associations were observed for ER+, PR+, ER+ PR+, and grade 3 breast cancer. Significant effect modification was observed for tobacco smoking status. Abstract: Background: Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is an endocrine-disrupting pollutant formed during incomplete combustion of organic materials. It has been recognized as a reproductive and developmental toxicant, however epidemiological evidence of the long-term effect of ambient air BaP on breast cancer (BC) is limited. Thus we evaluated associations between ambient air BaP exposure and risk of BC, overall and according to menopausal status and molecular subtypes (estrogen receptor negative/positive (ER−/ER+) and progesterone receptor negative/positive (PR−/PR+)), stage and grade of differentiation of BC in the French E3N cohort study. Methods: Within a nested case-control study of 5222 incident BC cases and 5222 matched controls, annual BaP exposure was estimated using a chemistry-transport model (CHIMERE) and was assigned to the geocoded residential addresses of participants for each year during the 1990–2011 follow-up period. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Overall, cumulative airborne BaP exposure was significantly associated with the overall risk of BC, for each 1 interquartile range (IQR) increase in the concentration levels of BaP (1.42 ng/m 3 ), the OR = 1.15 (95% CI: 1.04–1.27). However, by menopausal status, the significant positive association remained only in women who underwent menopausal transition (i.e. premenopausal women at inclusion who became postmenopausal at diagnosis), OR per 1 IQR = 1.20 (95% CI: 1.03–1.40). By hormone receptor status, positive associations were observed for ER+, PR + and ER + PR + BC, with ORs = 1.17 (95% CI: 1.04–1.32), 1.16 (95% CI: 1.01–1.33), and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.01–1.36) per 1 IQR, respectively. There was also a borderline positive association between BaP and grade 3 BC (OR per 1 IQR = 1.15 (95% CI: 0.99–1.34). Conclusions: We provide evidence of increased risk of BC associated with cumulative BaP exposure, which varied according to menopausal status, hormone receptor status, and grade of differentiation of BC. Our results add further epidemiological evidence to the previous experimental studies suggesting the adverse effects of BaP.