Beyond lung cancer: air pollution and bladder, breast and prostate cancer incidence.

This study investigates the associations between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution—specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—and the incidence of various cancers in a large Israeli cohort of over 900,000 participants from 2007 to 2015. Using Cox regression models adjusted for demographic and socio-economic factors, the study found that increased PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with higher risks of all cancer sites combined, as well as lung, bladder, breast, and prostate cancers, with stronger associations observed for PM2.5 compared to NOx. While the findings reinforce established links between air pollution and lung cancer, they also provide additional evidence for bladder, breast, and prostate cancers, though further research is recommended, particularly regarding prostate cancer. The authors emphasize that despite some limitations, such as lack of data on personal risk factors like smoking, these results support the implementation of policies to reduce air pollution exposure.