{"id":{"repo_id":"queens","oai_identifier":"oai:queensu.scholaris.ca:1974/31977"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/queens/oai:queensu.scholaris.ca:1974/31977","repository":{"repo_id":"queens","name":"Queens University","base_url":"https://qspace.library.queensu.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Ambient Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Canadian Case-Control Study","abstract":"Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of ubiquitous pollutants which are emitted through combustion of organic materials and are recognized as established human carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. There is a lack of epidemiological research investigating ambient PAH exposures and breast cancer risk. Additionally, PAHs have seldom been modelled at the population-level for epidemiological application, and current methods for assessment of long-term exposure are limited. This thesis evaluated associations between long-term residential exposure to ambient PAHs and breast cancer risk, both pre- and post-menopausal, in the Canadian setting. Methods: Using the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS), a population-based case-control study conducted within eight of the Canadian provinces between 1994-1997, annual fluoranthene exposures were estimated using the GEM-MACH-PAH chemical transport model on the basis of geocoded residential histories throughout a 20-year exposure window. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) controlling for potential confounders were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Separate analyses were conducted for Ontario and national samples given a finer-resolution exposure surface available for Ontario, as well as additional risk factor information collected in Ontario. Results: Positive associations were observed between long-term fluoranthene exposure and premenopausal breast cancer, with inconsistent findings for postmenopausal breast cancer. For premenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.29, 4.77) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.29) were observed when comparing the second highest category of exposure to the lowest, amongst the Ontario and national samples, respectively. For postmenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs were 1.10 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.80) and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.73). Associations for the highest level of exposure, across both samples and menopausal strata, were non-significant. Results were robust in sensitivity analysis restricted to those with more complete residence history, confounders controlled for, and simultaneous modelling of criteria air pollutant measures. Conclusion: This study provides support for the hypothesis that ambient PAH exposures are associated with an increase in risk for breast cancer, especially for premenopausal women.","abstract_html":"Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of ubiquitous pollutants which are emitted through combustion of organic materials and are recognized as established human carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. There is a lack of epidemiological research investigating ambient PAH exposures and breast cancer risk. Additionally, PAHs have seldom been modelled at the population-level for epidemiological application, and current methods for assessment of long-term exposure are limited. This thesis evaluated associations between long-term residential exposure to ambient PAHs and breast cancer risk, both pre- and post-menopausal, in the Canadian setting. Methods: Using the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS), a population-based case-control study conducted within eight of the Canadian provinces between 1994-1997, annual fluoranthene exposures were estimated using the GEM-MACH-PAH chemical transport model on the basis of geocoded residential histories throughout a 20-year exposure window. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) controlling for potential confounders were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Separate analyses were conducted for Ontario and national samples given a finer-resolution exposure surface available for Ontario, as well as additional risk factor information collected in Ontario. Results: Positive associations were observed between long-term fluoranthene exposure and premenopausal breast cancer, with inconsistent findings for postmenopausal breast cancer. For premenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.29, 4.77) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.29) were observed when comparing the second highest category of exposure to the lowest, amongst the Ontario and national samples, respectively. For postmenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs were 1.10 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.80) and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.73). Associations for the highest level of exposure, across both samples and menopausal strata, were non-significant. Results were robust in sensitivity analysis restricted to those with more complete residence history, confounders controlled for, and simultaneous modelling of criteria air pollutant measures. Conclusion: This study provides support for the hypothesis that ambient PAH exposures are associated with an increase in risk for breast cancer, especially for premenopausal women.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hinton, Patrick"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Public Health Sciences","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["King, Will","Villeneuve, Paul"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":null,"date_issued":"","date_published":null,"updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:35:23Z","subjects":["Cancer","Epidemiology","Air Pollution","Breast Cancer"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["Attribution 4.0 International"],"rights_urls":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1974/31977","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Public Health Sciences"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.supervisor","label":"Supervisor","values":["King, Will","Villeneuve, Paul"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hinton, Patrick"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2023-10-11T16:12:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2023-10-11T16:12:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Cancer","Epidemiology","Air Pollution","Breast Cancer"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Attribution 4.0 International"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1974/31977"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of ubiquitous pollutants which are emitted through combustion of organic materials and are recognized as established human carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. There is a lack of epidemiological research investigating ambient PAH exposures and breast cancer risk. Additionally, PAHs have seldom been modelled at the population-level for epidemiological application, and current methods for assessment of long-term exposure are limited. This thesis evaluated associations between long-term residential exposure to ambient PAHs and breast cancer risk, both pre- and post-menopausal, in the Canadian setting. Methods: Using the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS), a population-based case-control study conducted within eight of the Canadian provinces between 1994-1997, annual fluoranthene exposures were estimated using the GEM-MACH-PAH chemical transport model on the basis of geocoded residential histories throughout a 20-year exposure window. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) controlling for potential confounders were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Separate analyses were conducted for Ontario and national samples given a finer-resolution exposure surface available for Ontario, as well as additional risk factor information collected in Ontario. Results: Positive associations were observed between long-term fluoranthene exposure and premenopausal breast cancer, with inconsistent findings for postmenopausal breast cancer. For premenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.29, 4.77) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.29) were observed when comparing the second highest category of exposure to the lowest, amongst the Ontario and national samples, respectively. For postmenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs were 1.10 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.80) and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.73). Associations for the highest level of exposure, across both samples and menopausal strata, were non-significant. Results were robust in sensitivity analysis restricted to those with more complete residence history, confounders controlled for, and simultaneous modelling of criteria air pollutant measures. Conclusion: This study provides support for the hypothesis that ambient PAH exposures are associated with an increase in risk for breast cancer, especially for premenopausal women."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["M.Sc."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Ambient Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Canadian Case-Control Study"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.department":["Public Health Sciences"],"dc:contributor.supervisor":["King, Will","Villeneuve, Paul"],"dc:creator":["Hinton, Patrick"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2023-10-11T16:12:00Z"],"dc:date.available":["2023-10-11T16:12:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of ubiquitous pollutants which are emitted through combustion of organic materials and are recognized as established human carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. There is a lack of epidemiological research investigating ambient PAH exposures and breast cancer risk. Additionally, PAHs have seldom been modelled at the population-level for epidemiological application, and current methods for assessment of long-term exposure are limited. This thesis evaluated associations between long-term residential exposure to ambient PAHs and breast cancer risk, both pre- and post-menopausal, in the Canadian setting. Methods: Using the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS), a population-based case-control study conducted within eight of the Canadian provinces between 1994-1997, annual fluoranthene exposures were estimated using the GEM-MACH-PAH chemical transport model on the basis of geocoded residential histories throughout a 20-year exposure window. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) controlling for potential confounders were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Separate analyses were conducted for Ontario and national samples given a finer-resolution exposure surface available for Ontario, as well as additional risk factor information collected in Ontario. Results: Positive associations were observed between long-term fluoranthene exposure and premenopausal breast cancer, with inconsistent findings for postmenopausal breast cancer. For premenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.29, 4.77) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.29) were observed when comparing the second highest category of exposure to the lowest, amongst the Ontario and national samples, respectively. For postmenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs were 1.10 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.80) and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.73). Associations for the highest level of exposure, across both samples and menopausal strata, were non-significant. Results were robust in sensitivity analysis restricted to those with more complete residence history, confounders controlled for, and simultaneous modelling of criteria air pollutant measures. Conclusion: This study provides support for the hypothesis that ambient PAH exposures are associated with an increase in risk for breast cancer, especially for premenopausal women."],"dc:description.degree":["M.Sc."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1974/31977"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:rights":["Attribution 4.0 International"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"dc:subject":["Cancer","Epidemiology","Air Pollution","Breast Cancer"],"dc:title":["Ambient Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Canadian Case-Control Study"],"dc:type":["thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:35:23Z"}