Brain tumor and environmental risk factors in young people- A literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Despite brain tumors being one of the most frequent tumor type in young people, little is known on their etiological factors. The main objective was to review the scientific literature on the association between exposure to environmental risk factors and brain tumors in young people. Methods: The PUBMED database was searched to identify publications on environmental risk factors (ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, heavy metals, water quality, farming, air pollution, and environmental tobacco smoke) and brain cancer in young people. Results: A total of thirty one publications were identified. Ionizing radiation was the best established environmental risk factor. We found two studies showing an increased risk, four studies showing no association and seven suggesting an increased risk between brain cancer and ionizing radiation. With respect to heavy metals, we identified one study on cadmium which found an increased risk. On water quality, two studies suggested a possible association and another one observed no increased risk, except in women who drank exclusively well water during pregnancy. Six reports showed an increased risk related to farm residence, especially when handling pesticides, while another one found an inverse association. With respect to air pollution, the four articles that we found showed an increased risk. For environmental tobacco smoke, we found one study that reported an increased risk while two other studies found no significant association. Conclusions: Ionizing radiation is the most established environmental risk factor for brain tumors. Results for other environmental risk factors are inconclusive. More studies are needed to assess the association between environmental risk factors and brain tumors in young adults.