Carcinogenic air pollutants and breast cancer risk in the Arkansas rural community health study: A nested case-control study.

Background: Previous epidemiological studies on the associations between hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and breast cancer (BC) have largely neglected rural, medically underserved areas in the United States, which differ in exposures and disparities compared to urban areas.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the associations between carcinogenic HAPs and BC risk in a rural population.

Methods: Using a nested case-control design, 574 cases and 2295 incidence density-sampled controls matched 1:4 on index age and race were included from the Arkansas Rural Community Health study.

Low‑Level Environmental Heavy Metals are Associated with Obesity Among Postmenopausal Women in a Southern State.

Both arsenic and cadmium are reported to be toxic to humans. The use of saliva as a biomarker of low-level exposures to these elements has not been adequately explored, and the putative relationship between exposure and obesity is unclear. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the relationship between salivary arsenic and cadmium concentrations and their association with obesity.

Association between breast cancer risk and leisure physical activity in a rural cohort population.

Background: Physical activity has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer. Varying definitions of physical activity have made the evaluation difficult to analyze. In a state with high prevalence of obesity and elevated rates of breast cancer incidence and mortality, physical activity may be an important element for risk reduction.