Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case Study

Abstract

Air pollution is among the world’s major environmental concerns. It remains a major health threat in India and is the leading environmental cause of morbidity in the country. There is considerable evidence that heavy and prolonged exposure to several air contaminants increases the cancer risk. The prevalence of breast cancer in citified environments with high exposure to air pollution has been seen to be elevated. Among various Indian cities, the Delhi cancer registry is having a high breast cancer incidence (28.6%). Owing to the recent and unprecedented global outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), India is exploring every possible way of controlling its vigorous human transmission. Work from home culture is adopted so as to maintain social distancing during the lockdown. This momentary stoppage is substantially reducing the level of air pollution in several city areas across India dramatically. This paper (i) Overviews the breast cancer and air pollution association; (ii) Compiles the air quality data of Delhi monitored by CPCB during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown time and compares it with pre-lockdown air quality data; (iii) Explores the reduced threat of breast cancer in Delhi during the nationwide lockdown. This work concluded that Air pollution serves a significant part in breast cancer occurrence. The countrywide lockdown in an attempt to prevent Covid-19 transmission has greatly improved the air quality of various Indian cities like Delhi. Also, with an unprecedented drop in rates of air pollution over Delhi, breast cancer occurrence may also decrease.