Daijiworld Media Network – New York
New York, Apr 19: A recent study led by Yale University researchers has raised alarms about the risks of early exposure to air and light pollution, suggesting a link to an increased risk of paediatric thyroid cancer. According to the study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, children and young adults up to the age of 19 may be particularly vulnerable to the development of papillary thyroid cancer when exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and outdoor artificial light at night (O-ALAN) during early life stages.
The research team discovered a “significant association” between ambient PM2.5 pollution and outdoor artificial light at night with a heightened risk of thyroid cancer. These exposures, particularly during the perinatal stage—the period from pregnancy to one year after birth—were found to be concerning, given how prevalent both types of pollution are, especially in urban settings.
Dr Nicole Deziel, an environmental epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health and the study’s lead author, explained that fine particulate matter comes from urban air pollution, primarily caused by automobile traffic and industrial activities. Meanwhile, artificial light at night is a growing issue in densely populated areas. The study's findings revealed that exposure to PM2.5 could increase the odds of developing thyroid cancer by 7% for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in pollution.
The study focused on 736 individuals diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer before the age of 20 and 36,800 matched control participants. Conducted in California, it found that teenagers (ages 15–19) and Hispanic children were particularly at risk. Furthermore, children living in areas with high levels of outdoor light at night were 23–25% more likely to develop thyroid cancer.
"Thyroid cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers among children, but we still lack sufficient understanding of what contributes to its rise in this age group," said Dr. Deziel. The study emphasizes the need for further research to confirm these findings and explore their broader implications for public health, particularly regarding environmental factors influencing childhood cancers.