A new study suggests early-life exposure to fine particulate air pollution and outdoor artificial light at night increases the risk of papillary thyroid cancer in children and young adults.
Exposure to two common environmental pollutants may be contributing to one of the fastest growing cancers in children and young adults.
A new study suggests early-life exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and outdoor artificial light at night could increase the risk of pediatric thyroid cancer.
The lead author says, “These results are concerning, especially given how widespread both of these exposures are.”
Fine particulate matter is released into the air through things like automobile exhaust and industrial activity and artificial light at night is extremely common in densely populated areas.
Researchers analyzed data from 736 people diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer before the age of 20 and nearly 37,000 matched controls.
They estimated the participants’ exposure to both pollutants based on where they lived at birth and found significantly higher odds of thyroid cancer among those exposed to higher levels of fine particulate matter.
The strongest association was discovered among teenagers, 15–19 years of age, and Hispanic children.
Young people born in areas with high levels of outdoor light at night were also 23-25% more likely to develop thyroid cancer, according to the results.
The authors say while more research is needed, reducing air and light pollution could be important steps in protecting children’s health.
Source: Environmental Health Perspectives
Author Affiliations: Yale School of Public Health, American Cancer Society, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, University of California, Berkeley
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