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BACKGROUND: Ultrafine particles (UFP) are unregulated air pollutants abundant in aviation exhaust. Emerging evidence suggests that UFPs may impact lung health due to their high surface area-to-mass ratio and deep penetration into airways. This study aimed to assess long-term exposure to airport-related UFPs and lung cancer incidence in a multiethnic population in Los Angeles County. METHODS: Within the California Multiethnic Cohort, we examined the association between long-term exposure to airport-related UFPs and lung cancer incidence. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the effect of UFP exposure on lung cancer incidence. Subgroup analyses by demographics, histology and smoking status were conducted. RESULTS: Airport-related UFP exposure was not associated with lung cancer risk [per one IGR HR, 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.97-1.05] overall and across race/ethnicity. A suggestive positive association was observed between a one IQR increase in UFP exposure and lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) risk (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00-1.17) with a Phet for histology = 0.05. Positive associations were observed in 5-year lag analysis for SCC (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, CI, 1.02-1.22) and large cell carcinoma risk (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01-1.49) with a Phet for histology = 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: This large prospective cohort analysis suggests a potential association between airport-related UFP exposure and specific lung histologies. The findings align with research indicating that UFPs found in aviation exhaust may induce inflammatory and oxidative injury leading to SCC. IMPACT: These results highlight the potential role of airport-related UFP exposure in the development of lung SCC.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) applies the Population Health Standard in tobacco product review processes by weighing anticipated health benefits against risks associated with a given commercial tobacco product at the population level. However, systemic racism (ie, discriminatory policies and practices) contributes to an inequitable distribution of tobacco-related health benefits and risks between white and Black/African Americans at the population level. Therefore, Black-centered, antiracist data standards for tobacco product review processes are needed to achieve racial equity and social justice in US tobacco control policy. Regardless of whether FDA implements such data standards, non-industry tobacco scientists should prioritise producing and disseminating Black-centred data relevant to FDA's regulatory authority. We describe how systemic racism contributes to disparities in tobacco-related outcomes and why these disparities are relevant for population-level risk assessments, then discuss four possible options for Black-centred data standards relevant to tobacco product review processes.

PURPOSE: To characterize breast cancer (BC) incidence by age at diagnosis and BC subtype among disaggregated Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women and non-Hispanic White (NHW) women in Hawaii. METHODS: Using 1990-2014 data from the Hawaii tumor registry, we estimated age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIR) of BC and the annual percent change in BC incidence by age (

IntroductionIt is established that higher prediagnostic circulating androgen and estrogen levels are associated with increased breast cancer risk in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Pooled analyses in postmenopausal women report higher androgen and estrogen levels in current heavy cigarette smokers compared to nonsmokers. However, evidence among premenopausal women has been inconsistent.Aims and methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate differences in standardized mean hormone levels among current premenopausal smokers compared to nonsmokers. We reviewed and collated publications with sex hormone levels by smoking status among healthy, premenopausal women who were nonusers of exogenous hormones, including oral contraceptives, using PubMed through December 2019. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted to combine the standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin by smoking status. Findings were summarized by menstrual cycle phase and overall.ResultsNineteen published peer-reviewed articles were included. Significantly increased testosterone levels among smokers compared to nonsmokers were identified from cross-sectional studies with varied menstrual phase timing (SMD 0.14; 95% CI 0.0005, 0.29) and significantly increased dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate levels were found over all phases (SMD 0.12; 95% CI 0.01, 0.22). However, substantial heterogeneity existed in these studies.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests that smoking may increase blood androgen levels in healthy premenopausal women which may increase breast cancer risk; however, the differences were modest. Larger and covariate-adjusted studies with standardized collection over the menstrual cycle are needed to better understand this relationship and to reduce heterogeneity.ImplicationsExisting research has described associations between high prediagnostic estradiol and androgen levels with breast cancer risk among premenopausal women and has established active smoking as a breast cancer risk factor. However, the smoking and circulating sex hormone associations among premenopausal women remain inadequately studied. In this meta-analysis, we identified an association between smoking and higher mean testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate levels with consideration of menstrual phase, providing additional information on smoking's potential pathway to premenopausal breast cancer.

PurposeTo evaluate the association between lifetime personal cigarette smoking and young-onset breast cancer (YOBC; diagnosed

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) applies the Population Health Standard in tobacco product review processes by weighing anticipated health benefits against risks associated with a given commercial tobacco product at the population level. However, systemic racism (ie, discriminatory policies and practices) contributes to an inequitable distribution of tobacco-related health benefits and risks between white and Black/African Americans at the population level. Therefore, Black-centered, antiracist data standards for tobacco product review processes are needed to achieve racial equity and social justice in US tobacco control policy. Regardless of whether FDA implements such data standards, non-industry tobacco scientists should prioritise producing and disseminating Black-centred data relevant to FDA's regulatory authority. We describe how systemic racism contributes to disparities in tobacco-related outcomes and why these disparities are relevant for population-level risk assessments, then discuss four possible options for Black-centred data standards relevant to tobacco product review processes.

Abstract: Previous studies have found that tobacco exposure is associated with an increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer (BC) overall and some studies suggest that risk is only increased for Luminal A BC. Few studies have described the association between tobacco exposure and BC risk with characterization of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) subtype. This analysis explored associations between smoking over the life course and BC risk overall and by BC subtype among a socioeconomically diverse population of young non-Hispanic (NH) Black and White women. Data were examined from a population-based case-control study in women under 50 years of age, the Young Women’s Health History Study. In total, 1,812 women with invasive BC (1,130 NH White, 682 NH Black) and an area-based sample of 1,381 (716 NH White, 665 NH Black) control women, frequency matched to cases by five-year age group, study site and self-reported race were identified from the Los Angeles County and Metropolitan Detroit SEER registry areas. Lifetime smoking histories were collected from in-person interviews. Sample-weighted logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the association between lifetime cigarette smoking status (never versus ever smoker) and BC risk adjusted for known BC risk factors and study site. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted for analyses by BC subtype. Heterogeneity in the odds ratio (OR) estimates by BC subtype and cross-product interaction terms of smoking status by race and by household percent poverty (HHP) were evaluated by the Wald test. In adjusted models, BC risk overall was not significantly associated with ever smoking at least 1 cigarette a day for 6 months or more (OR 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97- 1.43). By BC subtype, ever smokers displayed a statistically significant 30% increase in Luminal A BC risk compared to never smokers (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.03-1.64) and a 90% increased risk of HER2-type BC (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.17-3.08). Smoking was not associated with risk of Luminal B or Triple Negative BC. Associations between ever smoking and BC risk significantly differed by BC subtype (Pheterogeneity=0.02). Statistical interactions by race or by HHP were not observed. However, we noted that in stratified models the association between smoking and risk for HER2-type BC was higher among NH White compared to NH Black women and among women with HHP ≥150% compared to HHP

Abstract: The etiology of breast cancer (BC) among young women is not well understood. Recent studies have suggested that tobacco exposure is associated with an increased risk of BC but few studies have evaluated risk among women under age 50 or racial and socioeconomic disparities in risk. We hypothesized that racial and socioeconomic differences in age at smoking initiation and lifetime cigarette smoking contribute to disparities in BC risk among young women. Data were examined from a population-based case-control study in women under 50 years of age, the Young Women’s Health History Study. In total, 1,812 women with invasive BC (1,130 Non-Hispanic (NH) White, 682 NH Black) and an area-based sample of 1,381 control women (716 NH White, 665 NH Black), frequency matched to cases by five-year age group, study site and race were identified and interviewed from the Los Angeles County and Metropolitan Detroit SEER registry areas. Lifetime smoking history (including age at initiation, duration, and frequency) were collected from structured in-person interviews. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between lifetime cigarette smoking and BC risk adjusted for matching and known BC risk factors. Additionally, cross-product interaction terms of smoking exposure by race and by socioeconomic position (SEP; based on household percent poverty) were evaluated by Wald’s test. Among controls, 36.5% reported ever smoking at least 1 cigarette a day for at least 6 months in their lifetime with White women compared to Black women (38.3% vs. 32.3%) and women of lower SEP (

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to determine individual and shared levels of psychosocial, behavioral, and symptomological health characteristics among Hispanics with recent history of cancer and their primary social support person (PSSP) in the years following diagnosis.Patients and Methods: Recruited from a population-based cohort study were 409 Hispanic patients with a previous diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Forty-seven patients identified a PSSP, who assists with medical decision-making and health-related matters, who also participated in the study. Current behavioral (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and complementary and alternative medicine use), psychosocial (stress and mindfulness), and physical symptom (fatigue) data were obtained using validated instruments. Analyses tested the individual and shared (between patients and PSSPs) variance in these health measures.Results: The sample was diagnosed on average 3.1 years (standard deviation = 1.7) prior to assessment. PSSPs were mainly spouses/partners (63%) or children (28%) of patients. Among patients, stress was positively associated with being a current smoker (p < 0.01) and with fatigue (r = 0.45, p < 0.001); stress was negatively correlated with mindfulness (r = -0.41, p < 0.001); mindfulness was negatively associated with smoking (odds ratio (OR) = 0.72, p < 0.01) and alcohol consumption (OR = 0.83, p < 0.05); the inverse relationship between mindfulness and fatigue was partially mediated through lower levels of stress (β = -0.17, p < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed among PSSPs. Patient mindfulness was negatively correlated with PSSP stress (r = -0.45, p < 0.01). Complementary and alternative medicine use showed interdependence between patients and PSSPs for use of herbal remedies (OR = 6.2; p < 0.01) and bodywork (OR = 8.3, p < 0.05).Conclusion: Hispanic colorectal cancer patients and their PSSP share a common health milieu in the years following a cancer diagnosis, offering opportunities for advancing interpersonal intervention approaches in cancer care. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living in racially and ethnically segregated neighborhoods may increase the risk of breast cancer. We examined associations between neighborhood racial and ethnic composition typology and incident primary invasive breast cancer risk in a population-based sample of 102,615 African American/Black, Japanese American, Native Hawaiian, Latino, and White females residing in California and Hawaii from the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) study between 1993-2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. In California, African American/Black females in predominantly White neighborhoods had decreased breast cancer risk compared to African American/Black females in predominantly Black neighborhoods (HR=0.71, 95% CI=0.50-0.99). Latino females in mixed White and Asian American/Pacific Islander neighborhoods had increased breast cancer risk (HR=1.59, 95% CI=1.20-2.11) in comparison to Latino females in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. In Hawaii, Japanese American females in multiethnic neighborhoods had increased breast cancer risk (HR=1.49, 95% CI=1.24-1.78) compared to Japanese American females in predominantly Asian American neighborhoods. Native Hawaiian females in predominantly Asian American neighborhoods had increased breast cancer risk (HR=1.23, 95% CI=1.04-1.45) compared to Native Hawaiian females in mixed Native Hawaiian neighborhoods. Our findings can inform future studies to identify specific pathways through which segregation influences cancer risk in multiethnic populations., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: Recent studies suggested fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) exposure increases the risk of breast cancer, but evidence among racially and ethnically diverse populations remains sparse., Materials and Methods: Among 58,358 California female participants of the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study followed for an average of 19.3 years (1993-2018), we used Cox proportional hazards regression to examine associations of time-varying PM with invasive breast cancer risk (n = 3,524 cases; 70% African American and Latino females), adjusting for sociodemographics and lifestyle factors. Subgroup analyses were conducted for race and ethnicity, hormone receptor status, and breast cancer risk factors., Results: Satellite-based PM 2.5 was associated with a statistically significant increased incidence of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR] per 10 μg/m 3 , 1.28 [95% CI, 1.08 to 1.51]). We found no evidence of heterogeneity in associations by race and ethnicity and hormone receptor status. Family history of breast cancer showed evidence of heterogeneity in PM 2.5 -associations ( P heterogeneity = .046). In a meta-analysis of the MEC and 10 other prospective cohorts, breast cancer incidence increased in association with exposure to PM 2.5 (HR per 10 μg/m 3 increase, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.00 to 1.10]; P = .064)., Conclusion: Findings from this large multiethnic cohort with long-term air pollutant exposure and published prospective cohort studies support PM 2.5 as a risk factor for breast cancer. As about half of breast cancer cannot be explained by established breast cancer risk factors and incidence is continuing to increase, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, our results highlight that breast cancer prevention should include not only individual-level behavior-centered approaches but also population-wide policies and regulations to curb PM 2.5 exposure.