Air pollution increases the risk of dying from breast cancer by 80% and is as dangerous as smoking, obesity and alcohol, research shows

The alarming link between air pollution and cancer will be laid bare this week in new research, revealed exclusively to the Mail.

While the link between air pollution and lung disease is well known, it is also directly implicated in cancer, including breast and prostate cancer, according to the review of 27 studies published Friday in Anticancer Research.

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 45 percent and prostate cancer by 20 to 28 percent, the report states.

It increases the risk of dying from breast cancer by 80 percent and any form of cancer by 22 percent, compared to people not exposed to pollution.

This makes it “as important a risk factor as smoking, obesity and alcohol,” said Professor Kefah Mokbel, one of the country’s leading breast surgeons who conducted the analysis.

The 27 studies were identified from a database of hundreds of peer-reviewed publications examining the role of pollution in human disease. Many of the studies involved millions of patients who were followed for decades.

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 45 percent and prostate cancer by 20 to 28 percent, according to the new study (Stock Image)

Of particular concern are particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), tiny particles of pollution (thinner than a human hair) that come from exhaust fumes, manufacturing, wood-burning stoves, cooking, smoking and vaping.

They enter the lungs and then the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body.

‘PM2.5 will not cause a cough, but there is increasing evidence that when it enters the body it can cause silent DNA damage that can lead to cancer,’ Professor Mokbel told Good Health.

‘It can cause inflammation and oxidative stress, where the balance between free radicals (harmful molecules linked to disease) and antioxidants (which scavenge free radicals) goes out of balance, causing damage to cell DNA. Both are known risk factors for cancer.

‘PM2.5 also disrupts glands throughout the body that produce hormones. This is a particular concern with breast and prostate cancer, which can be caused by hormones.

‘At a time when we are seeing more and more women with breast cancer, especially young women, people need to be aware that air pollution is a major risk factor for the disease.

‘Long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution not only increases the risk of breast cancer, but also appears to be associated with more aggressive disease and a poorer prognosis.’

For example, research published in the journal Medicine in 2019, which combined results from 14 studies involving more than a million cases of breast cancer, found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in PM2.5, the risk of dying from the disease increases . increased by 17 percent.

Meanwhile, US research published last year in the journal Environmental Epidemiology, which analyzed data from 2.2 million men, found that men diagnosed with prostate cancer were more likely to have been exposed to PM2.5 in the ten years prior to their diagnosis.

Other types of cancer that have been linked to PM2.5 exposure include stomach, lung, bladder, colon, ovarian and uterine cancers.

Of particular concern are particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), tiny particles of pollution (thinner than a human hair) that come from exhaust fumes, manufacturing, wood-burning stoves, cooking, smoking and vaping

Air pollution is “as important a risk factor as smoking, obesity and alcohol”, according to Professor Kefah Mokbel (pictured), one of the country’s leading breast surgeons who carried out the analysis.

Professor Mokbel recommends taking steps to protect yourself from the harmful effects of air pollution: ‘Avoid areas of high pollution where possible, but don’t rely on masks – they offer little protection against this type of pollution.

‘I would also recommend eating a Mediterranean diet full of antioxidants to neutralize the effect of PM2.5.

‘This means eating fish; fruits such as pomegranates, strawberries, blueberries and tomatoes; vegetables such as kale and broccoli; and drink green tea every day.’

He adds: ‘People should also be aware that vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking, and there is increasing evidence that it delivers PM2.5 directly into the lungs.

‘It is important that people are aware of the major health risks of air pollution. More research is needed, but the undeniable cancer risks associated underscore the urgency for policymakers to intensify their efforts in advocating clean energy initiatives.”

A spokesperson for Cancer Research UK said: ‘Research to date has shown that there is only compelling evidence that outdoor air pollution is linked to lung cancer.

‘But it’s important to keep this in perspective. Smoking causes around nine times more cases of lung cancer in Britain than air pollution.

‘Not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, staying safe in the sun and drinking less alcohol are all proven ways to reduce your risk of cancer.’