By Abbas Nazil
A new global report by the Union for International Cancer Control has warned that long-term exposure to air pollution significantly increases both the risk of developing cancer and dying from it, strengthening calls for urgent environmental and public health interventions worldwide.
The findings were published in a report titled “Clean Air in Cancer Control: An Overview of the Evidence”, released on Monday with support from the Clean Air Fund, and compiled from research spanning multiple countries and studies conducted between 2019 and 2024.
The report found that prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 increases the overall risk of developing cancer by 11 percent, while also raising the likelihood of cancer-related death by 12 percent, highlighting a major global health concern.
It further revealed that the most significant increases were observed in liver and colorectal cancers, while breast cancer mortality risk rose by 20 percent, with liver cancer deaths increasing by 14 percent and lung cancer mortality rising by 12 percent.
The analysis also showed that exposure to larger particulate matter, known as PM10, is associated with a 10 percent higher risk of developing cancer and a 13 percent increased risk of death from lung cancer, reinforcing the harmful effects of polluted air on human health.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Union for International Cancer Control, Cary Adams, said that despite global progress in reducing cancer deaths, air pollution remains a hidden but powerful threat undermining these gains across populations.
He noted that polluted air is unavoidable for most people and disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, particularly women, children, and low-income communities who are more exposed to environmental hazards and have limited access to quality healthcare services.
The report also highlighted that women exposed to household air pollution, especially from solid fuels used for cooking and heating, face a 69 percent higher risk of lung cancer along with increased risks of other forms of cancer.
It estimated that ambient air pollution contributes to approximately 434,000 lung cancer deaths globally every year, making it one of the leading environmental causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide.
Health experts and researchers involved in the study warned that without immediate policy action, rising air pollution levels could undermine decades of progress in cancer prevention, treatment, and survival, particularly in developing countries with fragile health systems.
The Head of Health at the Clean Air Fund, Nina Renshaw, called on governments to urgently adopt stricter emission standards, transition to cleaner energy sources, and integrate air quality targets into national cancer control and public health strategies.
The report also recommended expanded air quality monitoring systems, improved urban planning, and stronger transport and industrial emission regulations as key measures to reduce exposure and protect public health.
It further noted that while more than 140 countries have established air quality standards, only about one-third of them effectively enforce these regulations, allowing pollution levels to remain dangerously high in many regions.
The report concluded that addressing air pollution is not only essential for environmental protection but also a critical step in reducing cancer burden globally, improving survival rates, and ensuring healthier populations in both developed and developing nations.