Radiation and Electromagnetic Fields. Heavy exposure to radiation is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. Women who were treated with high doses of radiation for childhood cancers face a high risk for breast cancer in adulthood. This might account for the higher incidence observed in flight attendants. Although we know some of the risk factors that increase a woman's chance of developing breast cancer, we do not yet know what causes most breast cancers.
Research is under way to learn more.
Most DNA mutations related to breast cancer, however, occur during a woman's life rather than having been inherited. Currently there are no proven links between breast cancer, and environmental pollutants.