Exposure to second-hand smoke raises breast cancer risk in non-smokers by 24 percent, study reveals

0
61
Exposure to second-hand smoke raises breast cancer risk in non-smokers by 24 percent, study reveals


Exposure to second-hand smoke raises breast cancer risk in non-smokers by 24 percent, study reveals

A recent meta-analysis has revealed that second-hand smoke significantly increases the risk of breast cancer in non-smoking women. Analyzing data from 63 studies involving over 35,000 breast cancer cases, researchers found a 24% higher risk of developing breast cancer among non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. The risk is particularly high in settings like homes and workplaces, and among women exposed during childhood or from a partner.

It is indicated that the risk of breast cancer rises with the duration and intensity of exposure to second-hand smoke. Women exposed for more than 40 years face a 30% increased risk. These findings underscore the importance of stricter smoke-free policies and public awareness about the dangers of second-hand smoke, which is a major modifiable risk factor for breast cancer.

With second-hand smoke affecting about 35% of women globally, the study highlights a pressing need for smoke-free environments, especially at home, to reduce breast cancer risk. The researchers call for increased public education on the health risks associated with second-hand smoke exposure and the promotion of smoke-free living spaces.

For the rest of this article please go to source link below.



By Dr Sanchari Sinha Dutta, PhD
/

Feature Writer

  B.Sc. Physiology, M.Sc. Physiology, Ph.D. Physiology

Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta is a science communicator who believes in spreading the power of science in every corner of the world.

Since she was very young, Dr. Dutta was passionate about the world of science and making it accessible to all. During her time at school, Dr. Dutta particularly enjoyed taking part in biology experiments in the laboratory. The inner workings and diversity of the human body used to surprise her every day and eventually inspired her to become a biologist.

In order to learn more about the subject, Sanchari decided to take biology as her main subject at university and gained Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degrees in human physiology from the University of Calcutta, India.

This was followed by a Ph.D., also in physiology. During her tenure (2004 – 2010), she received the ‘Surg. Rear Admiral M.S. Malhotra Research Prize’ for best publication from the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, India.

Her thirst for knowledge and dream to be a science writer were always abreast throughout her academic tenure. However, instead of starting her career as a writer straight away, Sanchari decided to further her knowledge of the molecular biology of the human body and carried out postdoctoral research for 6 years after her Ph.D.

During this period, Dr. Dutta received ‘Dean of Faculty fellowship of Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel’ and ‘PBC fellowship for outstanding post-doctoral researchers from China and India in Israeli universities’.

Alongside bench work, she authored more than 10 original research articles, all published in renowned international journals.

In 2016, she started working with a leading medical communication company and formally became a freelance science writer. Since then, she has engaged in writing a wide variety of scientific articles, including original research articles, review articles, science discoveries, popular science articles, and healthcare articles. Her first review article as a science writer was recently published in the journal ‘Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity’.

Her work with News Medical offers a great platform for a wide range of audience to learn about the science behind good health.  

(Source: news-medical.net; July 1, 2024; https://tinyurl.com/7fks5fpx)