Illustration of a mammogram -

MYCHELE DANIAU / AFP

  • The Léon Bérard center in Lyon has just unveiled the results of several studies carried out to find out the origin of certain cancers.

  • They show that long exposure to air pollution greatly increases the risk of breast cancer.

  • The link between testicular cancer and exposure to household pesticides has also been established.

Speaking figures.

In France, each year, 160,000 people die of cancer while 382,000 new cases are detected.

Dizzying statistics of as much "40% of them are avoidable", notes Professor Jean-Yves Blay, director of the Léon Bérard anti-cancer center in Lyon.

The establishment, which is one of the references in France, has carried out several studies with its patients for ten years in order to identify the levers allowing to prevent relapses or the appearance of the disease and to measure the risk factors.

If smoking, alcoholism or overweight are now clearly implicated in the appearance of cancer, other elements, not yet identified, may intervene.

“The objective of the environmental cancer department is to be able to discover still unknown places, where the causes of cancer are nested,” explains Jean-Yves Blay.

Studies led by the center now allow us to state with certainty that pollution is not unrelated to the appearance of breast cancer.

Far from there.

Long term exposure

"Women exposed over the long term (several years) to different atmospheric pollutants risk developing breast cancer in an increased way," reveals Béatrice Fervers, coordinator of the cancer / environment project at Léon Bérard.

We have identified five that increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

"

Benzo [a] pyrene, considered to be an endocrine disruptor and emanating from poorly controlled combustion of wood or the burning of plants in the open air, automobile exhaust gases or cigarette smoke, is one of them.

Just like nitrogen dioxide, PCB 153 and fine suspended particles such as PM10 and PM 2.5 found in chimney fires, exhaust pipes or cigarette fumes.

Researchers have also made the link between testicular cancer and pesticides.

"We have shown in work, destined to be published, that the increased risk of germ cell tumors of the testis was associated with the use of household pesticides from childhood and adolescence as well as with certain fungicides", concludes Beatrice Fervers.

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  • Health

  • Lyon

  • Breast cancer

  • Pollution

  • Environment

  • Cancer