**Air pollution a factor in spiking cancer cases, report says**
The World Health Organization (WHO) released new estimates predicting a 77% increase in cancer cases globally by 2050. According to the report, air pollution is identified as a significant factor driving the anticipated rise in cancer rates. Despite its impact on everyone, air pollution is identified as one of the factors driving the expected increase in cancer rates.
As a global health monitor, the WHO rarely presents positive news. In line with its mission ahead of World Cancer Day, the International Agency for Research on Cancer under WHO released a report on February 1 projecting a surge of around 35 million new cancer cases by 2050. This represents a 77% increase compared to 2022, noted WHO. Among the factors driving the expected increase in cancer rates was air pollution.
Dr. Emmanuel Ricard, a spokesperson for the French League Against Cancer, highlighted the concern over fine particle pollution, particularly from diesel exhaust as a significant source of these particles. The finest particles can penetrate the lungs, triggering inflammation and disrupting cells, leading to the likelihood of cancerous growth.
The growing global cancer rate is attributed to factors such as population growth, longer life expectancy of the human species, and improved cancer diagnosis. Additionally, studies are increasingly showing a potential link between pollution and overall health deterioration, including mental health.
Furthermore, it is emphasized that cancer factors should not be seen in isolation, and individuals exposed to multiple factors are at a higher risk of developing cancer. Moreover, the transfer of pollution toward “developing” economies leads to a more aggressive pollution impact in these regions.
The report serves as an eye-opener, signaling an epidemiological transition in countries previously impacted by infectious diseases, which are now facing a surge of diseases more common to Western countries. This transition highlights the need for an ecological wake-up regarding environmental degradation and public health concerns.
The health concern is not only an end in itself but also a means to foster a greener world. It provides citizens with a platform to exert pressure on policymakers, emphasizing the detrimental impact of pollution on both human health and the planet.
