Land use, zoning, and breast cancer incidence in California: an ecological study.

Abstract

Background: The relationship between land use and zoning and breast cancer (BC) incidence is understudied, despite the potential for the built environment to result in exposure to mammary carcinogens. We examined associations between land use and zoning and BC incidence rates in California (CA).

Methods: We obtained 10-year (2012-2021) age-adjusted BC incidence rates (aIRs) of female BC by the 542 medical service study areas (MSSAs) from CA Health Maps and 2021 zoning data for 535 jurisdictions from CA's Office of Planning and Research Statewide Zoning Database. Land use and zoning was calculated as a percentage of total MSSA area using GIS. We used multiple linear regression to examine the associations (βs and 95% confidence intervals, CIs) between the percentages of non-residential land use (per 10% increases) including %agricultural, %high-intensity commercial, %industrial, %park or open space, and %mixed-use in MSSAs and aIRs overall and by race/ethnicity.

Results: BC aIRs increased with increasing %high-intensity commercial zoning (β = 8.32, 95% CI = 0.06, 16.57) among all women. BC aIRs increased with increasing %agricultural zoning (β = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.06, 5.15) among Black women, and decreased with increasing %park or open space zoning (β = - 0.85, 95% CI = - 1.54, - 0.17) among non-Hispanic White women (NHW).

Conclusions: Land use and zoning are associated with BC incidence rates among women in CA. Breast cancer prevention strategies can establish healthier communities through zoning modifications that prioritize open, public spaces, and recreational uses.