Exposure to air pollution and risk of ovarian cancer: a review

Abstract

Objectives Exposure to air pollution has destructive health consequences and a potential role in ovarian cancer etiology. We conducted a systematic review of the studies assessing the associations between ovarian malignancy and exposure to air pollutants. Content The included studies were categorized based on types of measured ambient air pollutants, including particulate matter (five studies), gases (two studies), air pollutant mixtures (eight studies), and traffic indicators for air pollution (only one study). Because of the heterogeneity of quantitative data of the reviewed studies, we qualitatively reviewed the air pollution role in ovarian cancer risk with representing incidence and/or the mortality rate of ovarian cancer in related with air pollution. Nine studies were ecological study design. Except for one, all studies confirmed a positive correlation between exposure to ambient air pollution (AAP) and increased ovarian cancer risks. Summary We concluded that prolonged air pollution exposure through possible mechanisms, estrogen-like effects, and genetic mutations might affect ovarian tumorigenesis. This research surveyed the limitations of the previous studies, including issues with ambient air pollution surveillance and assessing the exposure, determining the air pollution sources, data analysis approaches, and study designs. Outlook Finally, the authors provide suggestions for future environmental epidemiological inquiries on the impact of exposure to ambient air pollution on ovarian malignancy.

Ambient particulate matter air pollution exposure and ovarian cancer incidence in the USA: An ecological study

“…In a Taiwanese study, the association between PM 2.5 on the municipality level and mortality rates for ovarian cancer was likewise significant 43 . Other studies from outside the USA finding an association between ovarian cancer mortality and pollution have included other pollutants besides particulate matter or have focused on specific populations with increased occupational exposures 42,45,53 . A study that used the SEER registries to look at the incidence of all cancer types did not find a significant association between PM 2.5 and ovarian cancer incidence 34 .…”

“…43 Other studies from outside the USA finding an association between ovarian cancer mortality and pollution have included other pollutants besides particulate matter or have focused on specific populations with increased occupational exposures. 42,45,53 A study that used the SEER registries to look at the incidence of all cancer types did not find a significant association between PM 2.5 and ovarian cancer incidence. 34 However, this study was time-independent and did not account for the lagging exposure to PM 2.5 , and employed a different methodology to create a spatial raster prediction surface.…”

“…Some research on PM 2.5 exposure and ovarian cancer has been conducted outside the USA, notably in Spain, Taiwan and Japan. [42][43][44][45] That work has largely focused on mortality rather than incidence or risk factors, employing PM 2.5 as well as other ambient air pollutants as proxies for industrial and automobile pollution, with most studies finding a positive association between PM 2.5 exposure and ovarian cancer mortality. State-level analysis of ovarian cancer survival and air pollution has also been analysed in California, likewise, focusing on mortality.…”

“…To date, evidence for an association between air pollution and ovarian cancer risk has been limited. Some research on PM 2.5 exposure and ovarian cancer has been conducted outside the USA, notably in Spain, Taiwan and Japan 42–45 . That work has largely focused on mortality rather than incidence or risk factors, employing PM 2.5 as well as other ambient air pollutants as proxies for industrial and automobile pollution, with most studies finding a positive association between PM 2.5 exposure and ovarian cancer mortality.…”

A comprehensive review on endocrine toxicity of gaseous components and particulate matter in smog

“…Ambient PM air pollution is also related to a higher incidence of thyroid cancer ( 65 ). Moreover, other studies have revealed that the chronic exposure to air pollution may produce alterations in normal ovarian function e.g., estrogen-like effect or gene mutation, which can lead to ovarian cancer ( 66 ). Additionally, transplacental exposure to PM is connected to higher placental mutation rate and such epigenetic alterations may be a reason for placental carcinogenicity ( 55 ).…”