United States: According to the latest research, sky and light pollution exposure increases the probability of thyroid cancer occurrence in babies.
Studies published in Environmental Health Perspectives revealed that exposure to airborne particle pollution, together with outdoor artificial light, raised thyroid cancer risks for babies until age 20, as reported by HealthDay.
Key Environmental Triggers Identified
Lead researcher Nicole Deziel, who holds a position as an environmental epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health, articulated in an official news release that the findings remain worrisome because exposure to these elements occurs commonly across the population.
“Fine particulate matter is found in urban air pollution due to automobile traffic and industrial activity, and artificial light at night is common, particularly in densely populated urban areas,” she added.
According to researchers’ background notes, fine particle pollution, together with light pollution, operate as environmental carcinogens that impact the endocrine system of the body, specifically affecting thyroid function.
Small-sized particle pollution creates healthcare risks because these particles can enter bloodstream circulation. Airborne particulates measure smaller than 2.5 micrometers when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cites that human hairs reach widths between 50 to 70 micrometers.
If you blame vaccines for causing Autism. You can ignore the real problems as polluters poison you for profit, and Trump rolled back a bunch of regulations.
— James Tate (@JamesTate121) April 16, 2025
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Exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) has… pic.twitter.com/pFOuZni4zf
Research suggests that outdoor artificial light suppresses melatonin production along with disrupting the natural sleep/wake cycles leading to changes in hormone-regulated cancer development.
Study Findings: Elevated Risk Across Age and Ethnic Groups
The study evaluated 736 young patients with thyroid cancer diagnosed before age 20 against 36,800 healthy Californian children.
Researchers evaluated air pollution exposure together with light pollution by examining residential locations where these patients lived as babies.
Every increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter in particle pollution levels led to a 7% higher chance of children developing thyroid cancer, according to study findings.
A study found that 15 to 19-year-olds, along with Hispanic children, experienced an 8% and 13% elevated risk, respectively, for thyroid cancer due to air pollution exposure according to scientific research.
The odds of thyroid cancer increased by 25% for children born in areas with elevated outdoor artificial lighting levels.
“Thyroid cancer is among the fastest growing cancers among children and adolescents, yet we know very little about what causes it in this population,” Deziel said.
“Our study is the first large-scale investigation to suggest that these exposures early in life — specifically to PM2.5 and outdoor light at night — may play a role in this concerning trend,” she added.
Medical experts report that children receive their thyroid cancer diagnosis when tumors have reached advanced stages, as their tumors tend to be larger and more difficult to treat.
According to researchers, children who survive thyroid cancer must deal with the aftereffects of headaches and physical disabilities along with mental fatigue, which will accompany them in the long run, as reported by HealthDay.
The study investigators highlight the need for additional research to match and confirm their results.
Deziel made this statement while explaining that current findings emphasize the essential need to understand environmental causes in childhood cancer research. Protecting children’s health requires two key measures including controlling air pollution exposure and implementing light pollution management.