TRAFFIC pollution may increase the risk of breast cancer for women living and working in city centres, research suggests.
Scientists found that urban women were far more likely than those from rural areas to have dense breasts.
Women with dense breasts are up to four times more at risk of breast cancer than those with fatty breasts.
Among a group of women attend
ing a private London hospital, the correlation was highest for individuals living and working in the City of London.
It reduced with more distance from the centre, becoming progressively less pronounced in suburban and rural areas.
Data from NHS breast-screening centres in other parts of England and from rural Greece supported the findings.
The scientists believe there is a direct link between traffic pollution, breast density and breast-cancer risk.
Professor Kefah Mokbel, a member of the team which reported the findings in Chicago yesterday, said: "Women who live or work in cities should pay greater attention to breast screening.
"The other implication is that we have to focus on better traffic management and find ways to reduce traffic emissions," he added.
The researchers began their investigation after hearing anecdotal reports from breast-screening centres that unusually high numbers of women from city areas had dense breasts.
Previous research has shown that women with 25 per cent or more of their breasts made up of dense tissue are at significantly raised risk of breast cancer.
The full article contains 247 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
