Associations between environmental burdens and modifiable lifestyle risk factors among cancer survivors in NCI's HINTS-SEER survey.

This article investigates how multiple environmental burdens influence modifiable lifestyle risk factors among cancer survivors, using data from the 2022 Environmental Justice Index (EJI) and the 2021 Health Information National Trends Survey—Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (HINTS-SEER). The study found that higher environmental burdens—specifically the presence of hazardous industrial sites, railroads, high-volume roads, and elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations—were significantly associated with increased sedentary behavior (daily sitting time) among cancer survivors. Additionally, overweight status was positively associated with local prevalence of Risk Management Plan sites and negatively associated with neighborhood walkability and greenspace. No significant associations were observed between environmental burdens and physical activity, alcohol consumption, or smoking status after adjusting for covariates. These findings suggest that environmental factors may contribute to sedentary lifestyles in cancer survivors, highlighting the need for further research to inform targeted interventions and environmental planning to improve survivorship outcomes.