It’s hardly a surprise that air pollution has been shown to increase one’s risk of developing lung cancer.
However, it now appears that living in cities with more polluted air also correlates with a greater risk of dying from breast cancer. Although there are many other cancer-related risk factors associated with living in ‘dirty’ cities (i.e. exposure to other environmental toxins, higher levels of chronic stress, more sedentary lifestyles, less healthful diets, etc.), when researchers exclude as many of these other factors as possible it still seems that air pollution remains an important variable in increasing a breast cancer survivor’s risk of dying from breast cancer.
Study Findings:
A recent study found that breast cancer survivors, who live in cities with higher amounts of air pollution (which the researchers call “particulate matter”), have an increased risk of dying from breast cancer by up to 86%!
Helpful Links:
Read more about Particle Pollution and your health (American Lung Association)
Learn about Particulate Matter (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Check Your City’s Air Pollution Scores (World Health Organization)
