Menopause: Artificial light increases the risk of breast cancer

We already knew about the increased exposure of women working night shifts to hormone-dependent cancers, such as certain breast tumors. The cause is the disruption of their biological cycles. But another nighttime risk factor increases the risk of breast cancer: artificial light. And this is especially true for menopausal women.

To highlight this cause-and-effect relationship, Professor Rena Jones's* American team analyzed satellite images dating back to 1996, aerial views of residential neighborhoods in the United States. A total of 186,981 postmenopausal women were included in the study. For 16 years, the incidence of breast cancer was recorded in this population. The result: "Compared to low outdoor light levels at night, women most exposed to this pollution in their environment have a 10% increased risk of developing breast cancer."

Note: the majority of breast cancers occurring after menopause are linked to lifestyle habits (unbalanced diet, excessive alcohol consumption, overweight in adulthood, undernutrition before puberty).

*National Cancer Institute

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