(ORDO NEWS) — The number of cancer patients in Europe is growing, and this is largely due to environmental pollution: about one in 10 EU citizens with cancer can blame the environment for this.
And you don’t want your enemy to get cancer. Many factors, such as smoking and sun exposure, that increase the risk of cancer can be prevented, but environmental pollution…
It was originally estimated that 40 percent of all cancers in Europe are associated with modifiable risk factors, most of which are related to lifestyle: smoking, diet, alcohol, etc.
However, about a quarter of these cases, representing 10 per cent of the total cancer cases in Europe, can be attributed to air pollutants.
Cancer from the environment
The study categorizes these pollutants into five categories: air pollution, radon and ultraviolet radiation, smoking, asbestos and chemicals.
Both indoor and outdoor air pollution is associated with two percent of all cancer deaths in Europe. In particular, air pollution is estimated to be responsible for 7% of all lung cancers.
Air pollution in this context includes fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 particles) and exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ).
Ultraviolet radiation, primarily from the sun, which causes skin cancer, is believed to cause almost 4% of all cancers in Europe.
On the other hand, radon radiation is associated with cancer a little less often, since it comes from natural granite sources in the earth.
Mining causes high levels of occupational exposure to radon, while in some homes on the ground and lower floors, exposure levels can be above average.
Secondhand smoke and asbestos are well-known sources of carcinogens, and both have recently been subject to several restrictive laws.
The new report suggests that due to the long period of time since a cancer diagnosis, there are still new cases associated with historical exposure, but it is hoped that these rates will decrease in the coming years.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.