Epidemiology

BackgroundThere is convincing evidence that circadian disruption mediated by exposure to light at night promotes mammary carcinogenesis in rodents. The role that light at night plays in human breast cancer etiology remains unknown. We evaluated the relationship between estimates of indoor and outdoor light at night and the risk of breast cancer among members of the California Teachers Study.MethodsIndoor light-at-night estimates were based on questionnaire data regarding sleep habits and use of night time lighting while sleeping. Estimates of outdoor light at night were derived from imagery data obtained from the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program assigned to geocoded addresses of study participants. Analyses were conducted among 106,731 California Teachers Study members who lived in California, had no prior history of breast cancer, and provided information on lighting while sleeping. 5,095 cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed 1995\u20132010 were identified via linkage to the California Cancer Registry. We used age-stratified Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for breast cancer risk factors and neighborhood urbanization and socioeconomic class.ResultsAn increased risk was found for women living in areas with the highest quintile of outdoor light at night exposure estimates (HR=1.12 [95% CI=1.00 \u2013 1.26], test for trend, P=0.06). While more pronounced among premenopausal women (HR=1.34 [95% CI=1.07 \u2013 1.69], test for trend, P=0.04), the associations did not differ statistically by menopausal status (test for interaction, P=0.34).ConclusionsWomen living in areas with high levels of ambient light at night may be at an increased risk of breast cancer. Future studies that integrate quantitative measurements of indoor and outdoor light at night are warranted.20142015-09-01T00:00:00Z1U58 DP000807-01/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United StatesHHSN261201000034C/PHS HHS/United StatesHHSN261201000035C/PHS HHS/United StatesHHSN261201000036C/PHS HHS/United StatesK05 CA136967/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United StatesR01 CA077398/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United StatesR01 CA77398/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States25061924PMC4130422712