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Atmospheric air pollutants cause cancer: Study

MEHWISH

 

BIRMINGHAM: A new study has revealed that prolonged exposure to atmospheric air pollutants not only increases the risks of mortality largely from cardiopulmonary causes and lung cancer but may cause other cancers as well.

These pollutants include hydrocarbons and heavy metals produced by transportation and power generation. This study focuses on air pollutant matter or matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5).

Study shows that every 10 µg/m³ of increased exposure to PM2.5 raise the risk of mortality by 22 % due to cancers.

Escalations of 10 µg/m³ of PM2.5 were associated with a 42 % higher risk of dying from cancer in the upper digestive tract and a 35 % intensifies the risk of mortality from accessory digestive organs, which include the liver, bile ducts, gall bladder, and pancreas.

Every 10 µg/m³ upturn exposure in women raised the risks of dying due to breast cancer by 80% while men experience 36% higher risks of mortality due to lung cancer for every 10 µg/m³ of exposure to PM2.5.

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.