Association between county level industrialization and breast cancer incidence by state in the United States

Abstract

This ecological study examines the relationship between county-level industrialization and breast cancer incidence in the United States. Here, we used publicly available data on air pollution and breast cancer incidence to investigate the impact of industrialization on the development of breast cancer in the county. This paper used three air pollutants, carbon monoxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide, as indicators of the industrialization of counties. The study covered 135 counties from 2015 to 2019. Through statistical analysis and related evaluation, the relationship between the industrialization index and breast cancer incidence and regional distribution was discussed. The ecological design of the study limits the establishment of causality at the individual level. Limitations of the study include considering only three air pollutants as a proxy for industrialization and not taking other potential breast cancer risk factors into account. The results of this study contribute to the existing papers on environmental factors associated with breast cancer risk and have implications for public health and policymaking. Key areas for future research include exploring other pollutants, addressing limitations in study design, and considering other potential risk factors for breast cancer incidence.