The effect of climatic and geographical factors on breast cancer in Iran

OBJECTIVE: By studying the effect of environmental factors on health, it is clear that geographical, climatic and environmental factors have a significant impact on human health. This study, based on the data of the patients with breast cancer in Iran since 2010 to 2014 and using the statistical methods has determined the effect of geographical features of Iran (solar radiation status, radiation angle) on the frequency and distribution of this disease. RESULTS: The maximum amount of total solar radiation occurs in the vicinity (surrounding) of the tropic of cancer, which covers some parts of the south of Iran and in the atmosphere of the northern latitudes of Iran. The amount of humidity and cloudiness is more than the southern latitudes, which causes more reflection of short waves of the sun during the day. Findings showed that the rate of breast cancer in low latitudes is higher than high latitudes. It was also found that with increasing longitude, the rate of cancer increases significantly due to the high thickness of the atmosphere and receiving more sunlight in the electromagnetic spectrum, as well as dry air and low water vapor in low altitude areas of eastern and southeastern Iran.