Living Near Toxic Sites Linked to Aggressive Breast Cancer
Study finds higher risks for Florida women near Superfund sites
Women living near toxic Superfund sites in Florida face significantly higher risks of developing aggressive breast cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer, according to new research from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Superfund sites—areas contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the Environmental Protection Agency for cleanup—are raising public health concerns across South Florida. Currently, Florida has 52 active Superfund sites, many of them located near residential neighborhoods.
“Members of our community raised concerns that where they lived was making people sick,” said Dr. Erin Kobetz, epidemiologist and associate director for community outreach and engagement at Sylvester. “Overwhelmingly, these residents lived near Superfund sites, and there’s growing evidence that proximity to these areas is linked to poor health outcomes.”
The Sylvester team analyzed over 21,000 breast cancer cases in Florida between 2015 and 2019. Their findings revealed that women living in the same census tract as a Superfund site were about 30% more likely to have metastatic breast cancer. Another study found that proximity to these sites also increases the risk of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) — one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat subtypes.
Researchers also investigated how exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), a pollutant smaller than 2.5 microns, could contribute to higher TNBC rates in South Florida. Results showed a direct correlation between PM2.5 levels and TNBC incidence. Both studies were published in Scientific Reports and Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.
In a separate analysis, Sylvester scientists examined breast cancer samples from 80 Miami patients to identify biomarkers — chemical fingerprints influenced by both environment and neighborhood conditions. They found that women living in disadvantaged areas were more likely to have molecular signs linked to aggressive cancers.
“This deprivation index is strongly associated with more aggressive breast cancers,” said Dr. Aristeidis Telonis, co-lead researcher. “Understanding these molecular patterns could lead to more personalized treatment.”
Dr. Kobetz emphasized that these studies stemmed from community voices. “Our community believed something was wrong — and now, scientific data supports their concerns,” she said. “This is just the beginning of uncovering how environment and inequality influence cancer outcomes.”
