Breast and prostate cancer mortality and industrial pollution

Risk of prostate cancer in the proximity of industrial installations: A multicase-control study in Spain (MCC-Spain)

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most frequent tumor in men worldwide; however, its etiology remains largely unknown, with the exception of age and family history. The wide variability in incidence/mortality across countries suggests a certain role for environmental exposures that has not yet been clarified.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between risk of PC (by clinical profile) and residential proximity to pollutant industrial installations (by industrial groups, groups of carcinogens, and specific pollutants released), within the context of a Spanish population-based multicase-control study of incident cancer (MCC-Spain).

METHODS

This study included 1186 controls and 234 PC cases, frequency matched by age and province of residence. Distances from participants' residences to the 58 industries located in the study area were calculated and categorized into "near" (considering different limits between ≤1 km and ≤ 3 km) or "far" (>3 km). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95%CIs) were estimated using mixed and multinomial logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders and matching variables.

RESULTS

No excess risk was detected near the overall industries, with ORs ranging from 0.66 (≤2 km) to 1.11 (≤1 km). However, positive associations (OR; 95%CI) were found, by industrial group, near (≤3 km) industries of ceramic (2.54; 1.28-5.07), food/beverage (2.18; 1.32-3.62), and disposal/recycling of animal waste (2.67; 1.12-6.37); and, by specific pollutant, near plants releasing fluorine (4.65; 1.45-14.91 at ≤1.5 km) and chlorine (5.21; 1.56-17.35 at ≤1 km). In contrast, inverse associations were detected near industries releasing ammonia, methane, dioxins+furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, trichloroethylene, and vanadium to air.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest no association between risk of PC and proximity to the overall industrial installations. However, some both positive and inverse associations were detected near certain industrial groups and industries emitting specific pollutants.

Effects of long-term metal exposure on the structure and co-occurrence patterns of the oral microbiota of residents around a mining area

Objectives

The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of long-term exposure to heavy metals on the microbiome of the buccal mucosa, to unveil the link between environmental contamination and the oral microbial ecosystem, and to comprehend its potential health implications.

Methods

Subjects were divided into two groups: the exposure group and the control group. We collected samples of buccal mucosa, soil, and blood, and conducted microbial diversity analysis on both groups of oral samples using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The concentrations of heavy metals in blood and soil samples were also determined. Additionally, microbial networks were constructed for the purpose of topological analysis.

Results

Due to long-term exposure to heavy metals, the relative abundance of Rhodococcus, Delftia, Fusobacterium, and Peptostreptococcus increased, while the abundance of Streptococcus, Gemella, Prevotella, Granulicatella, and Porphyromonas decreased. The concentrations of heavy metals in the blood (Pb, Cd, Hg, and Mo) were associated with the growth of Rhodococcus, Delftia, Porphyromonas, and Gemella. In addition, the relative abundances of some pathogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus anginosus, S. gordonii, and S. mutans, were found to be enriched in the exposure group. Compared to the exposure group network, the control group network had a greater number of nodes, modules, interactive species, and keystone taxa. Module hubs and connectors in the control group converted into peripherals in the exposure group, indicating that keystone taxa changed. Metals in the blood (Pb, Cd, Hg, and Mo) were drivers of the microbial network of the buccal mucosa, which can have adverse effects on the network, thus providing conditions for the occurrence of certain diseases.

Conclusion

Long-term exposure to multiple metals perturbs normal bacterial communities in the buccal mucosa of residents in contaminated areas. This exposure reduces the complexity and stability of the microbial network and increases the risk of developing various diseases.

The spatial association between environmental pollution and long-term cancer mortality in Italy

Tumours are nowadays the second world‑leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. During the last decades of cancer research, lifestyle and random/genetic factors have been blamed for cancer mortality, with obesity, sedentary habits, alcoholism, and smoking contributing as supposed major causes. However, there is an emerging consensus that environmental pollution should be considered one of the main triggers. Unfortunately, all this preliminary scientific evidence has not always been followed by governments and institutions, which still fail to pursue research on cancer's environmental connections. In this unprecedented national-scale detailed study, we analyzed the links between cancer mortality, socio-economic factors, and sources of environmental pollution in Italy, both at wider regional and finer provincial scales, with an artificial intelligence approach. Overall, we found that cancer mortality does not have a random or spatial distribution and exceeds the national average mainly when environmental pollution is also higher, despite healthier lifestyle habits. Our machine learning analysis of 35 environmental sources of pollution showed that air quality ranks first for importance concerning the average cancer mortality rate, followed by sites to be reclaimed, urban areas, and motor vehicle density. Moreover, other environmental sources of pollution proved to be relevant for the mortality of some specific cancer types. Given these alarming results, we call for a rearrangement of the priority of cancer research and care that sees the reduction and prevention of environmental contamination as a priority action to put in place in the tough struggle against cancer.

Epigenetic Regulation in Chromium-, Nickel- and Cadmium-Induced Carcinogenesis

Environmental and occupational exposure to heavy metals, such as hexavalent chromium, nickel, and cadmium, are major health concerns worldwide. Some heavy metals are well-documented human carcinogens. Multiple mechanisms, including DNA damage, dysregulated gene expression, and aberrant cancer-related signaling, have been shown to contribute to metal-induced carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms accounting for heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis and angiogenesis are still not fully understood. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have indicated that in addition to genotoxicity and genetic mutations, epigenetic mechanisms play critical roles in metal-induced cancers. Epigenetics refers to the reversible modification of genomes without changing DNA sequences; epigenetic modifications generally involve DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNAs. Epigenetic regulation is essential for maintaining normal gene expression patterns; the disruption of epigenetic modifications may lead to altered cellular function and even malignant transformation. Therefore, aberrant epigenetic modifications are widely involved in metal-induced cancer formation, development, and angiogenesis. Notably, the role of epigenetic mechanisms in heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis and angiogenesis remains largely unknown, and further studies are urgently required. In this review, we highlight the current advances in understanding the roles of epigenetic mechanisms in heavy metal-induced carcinogenesis, cancer progression, and angiogenesis.

Residential proximity to industrial pollution and mammographic density

BACKGROUND

Mammographic density (MD), expressed as percentage of fibroglandular breast tissue, is an important risk factor for breast cancer. Our objective is to investigate the relationship between MD and residential proximity to pollutant industries in premenopausal Spanish women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 1225 women extracted from the DDM-Madrid study. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association of MD percentage (and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs)) and proximity (between 1 km and 3 km) to industries included in the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register.

RESULTS

Although no association was found between MD and distance to all industries as a whole, several industrial sectors showed significant association for some distances: "surface treatment of metals and plastic" (β = 4.98, 95%CI = (0.85; 9.12) at ≤1.5 km, and β = 3.00, 95%CI = (0.26; 5.73) at ≤2.5 km), "organic chemical industry" (β = 6.73, 95%CI = (0.50; 12.97) at ≤1.5 km), "pharmaceutical products" (β = 4.14, 95%CI = (0.58; 7.70) at ≤2 km; β = 3.55, 95%CI = (0.49; 6.60) at ≤2.5 km; and β = 3.11, 95%CI = (0.20; 6.01) at ≤3 km), and "urban waste-water treatment plants" (β = 8.06, 95%CI = (0.82; 15.30) at ≤1 km; β = 5.28; 95%CI = (0.49; 10.06) at ≤1.5 km; β = 4.30, 95%CI = (0.03; 8.57) at ≤2 km; β = 5.26, 95%CI = (1.83; 8.68) at ≤2.5 km; and β = 3.19, 95%CI = (0.46; 5.92) at ≤3 km). Moreover, significant increased MD was observed in women close to industries releasing specific pollutants: ammonia (β = 4.55, 95%CI = (0.26; 8.83) at ≤1.5 km; and β = 3.81, 95%CI = (0.49; 7.14) at ≤2 km), dichloromethane (β = 3.86, 95%CI = (0.00; 7.71) at ≤2 km), ethylbenzene (β = 8.96, 95%CI = (0.57; 17.35) at ≤3 km), and phenols (β = 2.60, 95%CI = (0.21; 5.00) at ≤2.5 km).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest no statistically significant relationship between MD and proximity to industries as a whole, although we detected associations with various industrial sectors and some specific pollutants, which suggests that MD could have a mediating role in breast carcinogenesis.

Population-Level Patterns of Prostate Cancer Occurrence: Disparities in Virginia

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. In Virginia, which is a representative, ethnically diverse state of more than 8 million people that was established nearly 400 years ago, prostate cancer has the highest rate of new detection for any type of cancer. All men are at risk of developing prostate cancer regardless of demographics, but some men have an increased mortality risk due to cancer metastasis. Notably, one in five African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and they have the highest prostate cancer mortality rate of any ethnic group in the United States, including Virginia. A person's genetic profile and family history are important biological determinants of prostate cancer risk, but modifiable environmental factors (e.g., pollution) appear to be correlated with patterns of disease prevalence and risk. In this review, we examine current perspectives on population-level spatial patterns of prostate cancer in Virginia. For context, recent, publicly available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are highlighted and presented in spatial format. In addition, we explore possible co-morbidities of prostate cancer that may have demographic underpinnings highlighted in recent health disparity studies.

Effect of ambient air pollutants on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer pregnancy outcome in Zhengzhou, China

With the acceleration of China's urbanization and industrialization, air pollution has become a major environmental problem. Retrospective data analysis of 6564 patients who underwent IVF-ET in the center for reproductive medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2015 to 2020. Different stages were selected from 90 days before oocyte retrieval to 35 days after transfer and divided into five exposure periods. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between six ambient air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, CO and O₃) and the IVF-ET pregnancy outcome. The results showed that air pollutants can significantly affect the IVF pregnancy outcome. The harmful effects of ambient air pollutants are more obvious in the patients aged < 35 years, single embryo transfer and cleavage stage embryo transfer.

LncRNA OIP5-AS1 inhibits ferroptosis in prostate cancer with long-term cadmium exposure through miR-128-3p/SLC7A11 signaling

Previous studies suggest that cadmium (Cd) is one of the causative factors of prostate cancer (PCa), but the effect of chronic Cd exposure on PCa progression remains unclear. Besides, whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of prolonged exposure to Cd in PCa needs to be elucidated. In the present study, we found that the serum concentration of Cd in PCa patients was positively correlated with the Gleason score and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification. To simulate chronic Cd exposure in PCa, we subjected PC3 and DU145 cells to long-term, low-dose Cd exposure and further examined tumor behavior. Functional studies identified that chronic Cd exposure promoted cell growth and ferroptosis resistance in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 expression was greatly elevated in PC3 and DU145 cells upon chronic Cd exposure. Dysregulation of OIP5-AS1 expression mediated cell growth and Cd-induced ferroptosis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that OIP5-AS1 served as an endogenous sponge of miR-128-3p to regulate the expression of SLC7A11, a surrogate marker of ferroptosis. Moreover, miR-128-3p decreased cell viability by enhancing ferroptosis. Taken together, our data indicate that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 promotes PCa progression and ferroptosis resistance through miR-128-3p/SLC7A11 signaling.

Spatial interaction between breast cancer and environmental pollution in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area

This research examines the spatial structure of a sample of breast cancer (BC) cases and their spatial interaction with contaminated areas in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA). By applying spatial statistical techniques that treat the space as a continuum, degrees of spatial concentration were determined for the different study groups, highlighting their concentration pattern. The results indicate that 65 percent of the BC sample had exposure to more than 56 points of PM10. Likewise, spatial clusters of BC cases of up to 39 cases were identified within a radius of 3.5 km, interacting spatially with environmental contamination sources, particularly with refineries, food processing plants, cement, and metals. This study can serve as a platform for other clinical research by identifying geographic clusters that can help focus health policy efforts.

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.

Cancer Incidence Trends in the Oil Shale Industrial Region in Estonia

Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, excavated, and used for electricity generation and shale oil extraction. During industrial activities in the last 100 years, pollutants have been emitted in large amounts, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. The current study aims to analyse time trends in cancer incidence in the oil shale industry-affected areas and compare them with overall cancer incidence rates and trends in Estonia. We analysed Estonian Cancer Registry data on selected cancer sites that have been previously indicated to have relationships with industrial activities like oil shale extraction. We included lung cancer, kidney cancer, urinary bladder cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A statistically significantly higher lung cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was found during the study period (1992-2015) only in males in the oil shale areas as compared to males in Estonia overall: 133.6 and 95.5 per 100,000, respectively. However, there appeared to be a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the lung cancer ASIR in males in the oil shale areas (overall decrease 28.9%), whereas at the same time, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in non-oil shale areas (13.3%) and in Estonia overall (1.5%). Other cancer sites did not show higher ASIRs in the oil shale industrial areas compared to other areas in Estonia. Possible explanations could be improved environmental quality, socio-economic factors, and other morbidities.

Association between proximity to industrial chemical installations and cancer mortality in Spain

It is likely that pollution from chemical facilities will affect the health of any exposed population; however, the majority of scientific evidence available has focused on occupational exposure rather than environmental. Consequently, this study assessed whether there could have been an excess of cancer-related mortality associated with environmental exposure to pollution from chemical installations - for populations residing in municipalities in the vicinity of chemical industries. To this end, we designed an ecological study which assessed municipal mortality due to 32 types of cancer in the period from 1999 to 2008. The exposure to pollution was estimated using distance from the facilities to the centroid of the municipality as a proxy for exposure. In order to assess any increased cancer mortality risk in municipalities potentially exposed to chemical facilities pollution (situated at a distance of ≤5 km from a chemical installation), we employed Bayesian Hierarchical Poisson Regression Models. This included two Bayesian inference methods: Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations (INLA) and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC, for validation). The reference category consisted of municipalities beyond the 5 km limit. We found higher mortality risk (relative risk, RR; estimated by INLA, 95% credible interval, 95%CrI) for both sexes for colorectal (RR, 1.09; 95%CrI, 1.05-1.15), gallbladder (1.14; 1.03-1.27), and ovarian cancers (1.10; 1.02-1.20) associated with organic chemical installations. Notably, pleural cancer (2.27; 1.49-3.41) in both sexes was related to fertilizer facilities. Associations were found for women, specifically for ovarian (1.11; 1.01-1.22) and breast cancers (1.06; 1.00-1.13) in the proximity of explosives/pyrotechnics installations; increased breast cancer mortality risk (1.10; 1.03-1.18) was associated with proximity to inorganic chemical installations. The results suggest that environmental exposure to pollutants from some types of chemical facilities may be associated with increased mortality from several different types of cancer.