Air Pollution Increases Cancer Risk – New Scientific Findings

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) presented the latest scientific insights into how air pollution increases the risk of cancer at a webinar held on April 2, 2025.

Professor Zorana Jovanovic Andersen, an epidemiologist from the University of Copenhagen, and Dr. Laura Mezquita, a clinical oncologist from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, presented new findings.

What if the polluted air we breathe doesn’t just affect our lungs but silently contributes to cancer in other parts of the body?

Landmark Studies on Air Pollution and Cancer

Two major European studies have clarified the link between air pollution and cancer: the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) and the Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe (ELAPSE).

These long-term studies involved millions of Europeans in the analysis of exposure to pollutants like PM2.5, NO₂, and black carbon.

Which Cancer Types Are Affected by Air Pollution?

In those studies, air pollution and cancer were confirmed to be closely linked. A connection was found not only for lung cancer but also for breast, liver, and brain cancer.

Stomach and digestive cancers, as well as urinary tract cancers (bladder and kidney), did not show consistent associations.

On the other hand, a statistically significant association was observed between NO₂ exposure and leukaemia in the ELAPSE study. This highlights the role of urban traffic-related pollutants. While no significant link was found between PM2.5 and leukaemia or lymphoma, a suggestive association was reported between air pollution and multiple myeloma.

A Systemic Threat to the Body

These results reflect a broader reality: air pollution is a systemic threat. It acts not only through respiratory pathways but also by promoting chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune system dysregulation.

We must not overlook the fact that almost everyone is exposed to air pollution. In Serbia, for example, the legally allowed concentration of PM2.5 is 25 µg/m³-five times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended guideline. This underscores a broader disparity between scientific evidence and public policy, particularly in regions with less stringent air quality standards.

Air pollution contributes not only to the onset and poor outcomes of cancer. It poses a broader threat to human health, increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, and more.

>>Also read: PM2.5 Particles and Cardiovascular Risk
>>Also read: How Air Pollution Affects Our Brains?

Smoking: The Primary Risk Factor for Lung Cancer

Dr Laura Mezquita presented clinical insights into how air pollution influences cancer risks and treatment outcomes. These insights are highly relevant to both oncologists and their patients.

While smoking remains the primary risk factor for lung cancer, patients are increasingly exposed to multiple co-factors: air pollution, radon, occupational exposures, and more. Yet in clinical settings, air pollution is rarely addressed.

The Clinic: Why It Matters for Patients

Dr Mezquita emphasised how air pollution may:

• Influence tumour biology (molecular and immune profile)
• Alter treatment response, especially in immunotherapy
• Shortened survival after diagnosis, particularly with continued exposure

A 2022 landmark study demonstrated that pre-existing mutated cells in the lungs could be driven toward malignancy by PM2.5-induced inflammation-without the need for new mutations. This redefined air pollution as a tumour promoter, not just an initiator.

Unanswered Questions

• What is the impact of air pollution on cancer survival?
• How do genetic predisposition and co-exposures (e.g., smoking, radon) interact?
• Why are childhood cancers and colorectal cancers still understudied?

What Needs to Be Done

• Integration of clinical biomarkers into epidemiological research
• More precise stratification of tumours by histology and molecular subtypes
• Awareness among clinicians and inclusion of exposure history in patient records

Air Pollution Increases Cancer Risk: The Evidence Is Clear

Air pollution is not only a public health issue but a cancer prevention opportunity. Policies must follow:

• Stricter PM2.5 regulation, especially in high-exposure regions
• Environmental data collection in clinical settings
• Cross-disciplinary research between environmental scientists and medical professionals
• Education of oncologists and healthcare workers to recognise environmental risk factors

Dr. Mezquita put it best:
“Clean air must be integrated into precision oncology, not treated as an afterthought.”

Clean Air as Prevention

As global cancer cases rise and survival improves, long-term outcomes become more important than ever.

Air pollution, once considered only a background irritant, is now recognised as a driver of disease and a modifier of treatment success.

By advancing science, raising awareness, and embracing bold action, we can help ensure that clean air becomes part of every serious cancer strategy.

Our Approach

At Marquis Intelligence, we closely monitor the latest developments in air quality and their impact on human health. Our mission is not only to stay informed but to translate emerging science into exceptional real-world outcomes for our clients.

We know that people are exposed to outdoor air pollution primarily indoors. That’s why our focus is on providing clean and safe air in built environments through proper ventilation and advanced purification. We believe that clean air is more than a standard. It’s a strategy for health, sustainability, and long-term value.

>>Also read: Comfort Ventilation at the Heart of Marquis Intelligence

And you know what? All people deserve it!

This article is part of the “Air Pollution and Health” series, in which Marquis Intelligence, as a socially responsible company, raises awareness about the harmful impact of polluted air on human health.
Document: MC-AP&H-008.25 – Air Pollution Increases Cancer Risk – New Scientific Findings.