Air pollution is a trigger for the increase in cancer in the world

 

Air Pollution

In an alarming report published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO), a 77% increase in cancer cases worldwide is projected by the year 2050. This forecast has been attributed largely to air pollution, which has emerged as one of the main drivers of this staggering increase.

Dr. Emmanuel Ricard, spokesperson for the French League Against Cancer, highlights fine particle pollution as the main contributor to this worrying increase.

According to the expert, fine particles present in air pollution, especially derived from diesel exhaust gases, can penetrate deep into the lungs, triggering cellular dysfunction and eventually leading to the development of cancer cells.

The report also reveals that apart from pollution, population growth and aging of the population are additional factors that will contribute to this increase in cancer cases. As the world's population continues to expand and live longer, cancer incidence is driven by age-related declines in immunity.

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Catherine Hill, a French epidemiologist, points out the importance of improved cancer diagnosis in detecting cases that may have previously gone undetected.

It also highlights the existence of “overdiagnosis” situations, where the presence of cancer cells does not always translate into the manifestation of the disease.

Additionally, a possible connection between pollution and mental health has been noted in recent studies, suggesting that pollution could aggravate depression and other mental health problems.

The report highlights that pollution does not affect everyone equally, highlighting large cities in China, India, South America, and other regions as high-risk areas. Emmanuel Ricard warns about the transfer of pollution to the “South”, where developing economies are used as a “world dumping ground”, facing significant risks to the health of their inhabitants.

However, the report also highlights some positive points, such as improved air quality in certain regions. In the Toulouse metropolitan area, for example, the presence of fine particles and nitrogen oxide has decreased, which has had a positive impact on cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Xavier Briffault, a researcher in social sciences and mental health epistemology, sees the report as an opportunity for an ecological wake-up call.

By demonstrating the direct connection between health and environmental degradation, Briffault suggests that science could advance an ecological consciousness based on public health concerns, changing the narrative toward the idea that pollution is not only harmful to the planet but also deadly for us. A global call to action to address both human health and the health of the planet.