A new study reported recently in Cancer Research suggests that long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may increase risk for breast cancer.

Previous epidemiologic studies have already linked long-term exposure to single-sources of PAHs to elevated breast cancer risk.   The current study confirms the link between exposure to PAHs and risk of breast cancer.

The study finds that exposure to tobacco smoke from a spouse and synthetic firelog burning was associated with 20% and 30% increased risk for breast cancer, respectively.

Ingestion of PAHs and exposure to indoor stove or fireplace use were correlated with 45% and 30% increased risk for breast cancer, respectively.

Exposure to all sources of PAHs was linked to 46% increased risk for breast cancer. (David Liu)

White AJ, Bradshaw PT, Herring AH, Teitelbaum SL, Beyea J, Stellman SD, Steck SE, Mordukhovich I, Eng SM, Engel LS, Conway K, Hatch M, Neugut AI, Santella RM, Gammon MD. Exposure to multiple sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and breast cancer incidence. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-09-08.