{"id":8919,"date":"2025-04-04T13:11:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T11:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marquis.rs\/en\/?p=8919"},"modified":"2026-04-13T18:38:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T16:38:08","slug":"air-pollution-increases-cancer-risk-new-scientific-findings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marquis.rs\/en\/blog\/air-pollution-increases-cancer-risk-new-scientific-findings\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Pollution Increases Cancer Risk – New Scientific Findings"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”” woodmart_inline=”no” text_larger=”no”]The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC<\/a>) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal<\/a>) presented the latest scientific insights into how air pollution increases the risk of cancer at a webinar held on April 2, 2025.<\/p>\n

Professor Zorana Jovanovic Andersen, an epidemiologist from the University of Copenhagen, and Dr. Laura Mezquita, a clinical oncologist from Hospital Cl\u00ednic de Barcelona, presented new findings.<\/p>\n

What if the polluted air we breathe doesn\u2019t just affect our lungs but silently contributes to cancer in other parts of the body?<\/p>\n

Landmark Studies on Air Pollution and Cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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).<\/p>\n

These long-term studies involved millions of Europeans in the analysis of exposure to pollutants like PM2.5, NO\u2082, and black carbon.<\/p>\n

Which Cancer Types Are Affected by Air Pollution?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Stomach and digestive cancers, as well as urinary tract cancers (bladder and kidney), did not show consistent associations.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, a statistically significant association was observed between NO\u2082 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.<\/p>\n

A Systemic Threat to the Body<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3-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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

>>Also read: PM2.5 Particles and Cardiovascular Risk<\/a>
\n>>Also read: How Air Pollution Affects Our Brains?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Smoking: The Primary Risk Factor for Lung Cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Clinic: Why It Matters for Patients<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dr Mezquita emphasised how air pollution may:<\/p>\n