Two Factors Boost Thyroid Cancer Risk in Children
- Exposure to fine particulate air pollution and outdoor artificial light at night during infancy and early childhood may elevate the risk of thyroid cancer in children and young...
- The study revealed a "significant association" between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and outdoor artificial light at night (OALAN) and an increased risk of papillary thyroid cancer...
- "These results are concerning, especially given the widespread nature of both of these exposures," said Nicole Deziel, PhD, MHS, an environmental epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public...
Early Exposure to Air Pollution, Artificial light Linked to Increased Thyroid Cancer Risk in Children
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Exposure to fine particulate air pollution and outdoor artificial light at night during infancy and early childhood may elevate the risk of thyroid cancer in children and young adults, according to a Yale University-led study published in environmental Health Perspectives.
The study revealed a “significant association” between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and outdoor artificial light at night (OALAN) and an increased risk of papillary thyroid cancer in individuals up to age 19. The exposures occurred perinatally,defined as from the beginning of pregnancy until one year after birth.
“These results are concerning, especially given the widespread nature of both of these exposures,” said Nicole Deziel, PhD, MHS, an environmental epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) and lead author of the study. “Fine particulate matter is present in urban air pollution from vehicle traffic and industrial activity, and artificial light at night is common, especially in densely populated urban areas.”
Study Details
Researchers analyzed data from 736 individuals diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma before age 20, alongside 36,800 control participants matched by year of birth. Using geospatial and satellite models, the team assessed individual exposure to PM2.5 and OALAN based on residential location at birth. All participants were from California.
The findings indicated that for every 10-microgram per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 exposure, the odds of developing thyroid cancer rose by 7%. The strongest correlation between exposure and thyroid cancer was observed among teenagers (15-19 years old) and Hispanic children.
Similarly, the study found that children born in areas with high levels of outdoor artificial light at night had a 23-25% higher likelihood of developing thyroid cancer.
Thyroid cancer is among the fastest-growing cancers in children and adolescents,yet we certainly know very little about its causes in this population.
Nicole Deziel, Yale School of Public Health
Deziel added, “Our study is the first large-scale investigation to suggest that these exposures in early life, particularly to PM2.5 and outdoor artificial light at night, may play a role in this concerning trend.”
Early exposure to Air Pollution and Artificial Light: What’s the Link to Childhood Thyroid Cancer?
What did a recent study discover about childhood thyroid cancer?
A Yale University-led study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that exposure to fine particulate air pollution and outdoor artificial light at night during infancy and early childhood may increase the risk of thyroid cancer in children and young adults.