Cold, dry weather has been linked by U. S. researchers to increased incidence of prostate cancer.

Their county-level examination of prostate cancer incidence and weather patterns across the United States indicates colder weather and low rainfall strongly correlate with prostate cancer, say researchers at Idaho State University, Pocatello, led by Sophie St-Hilaire.

St-Hilaire says in a statement, "Although we can't say exactly why this correlation exists, the trends are consistent with what we would expect given the effects of climate on the deposition, absorption and degradation of persistent organic pollutants including pesticides."

It was also noted by St-Hilaire that cold weather slows the degradation of these pollutants, endocrine disruptors already associated with prostate cancer.

Weather is suggested as an additional hypothesis for the greater incidence of prostate cancer in northern latitudes that is being linked to low levels of Vitamin D by the study, published in the International Journal of Health Geographics.

St-Hilaire further says, "Our study suggests that in addition to vitamin D deficiency associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation, other meteorological conditions may also significantly affect the incidence of prostate cancer."
(With Inputs from Agencies)