L‘pollutionin the environment and in the workplace, it causes cancer in 10% of European cases. The new report “Beating cancer – the role of Europe’s environment”Conducted by the European Environment Agency (EEA), is clear.
Pollution and cancer: a worrying link
The European Environment Agency studied the links between tumors and the environment. Andexamining the latest scientific evidence on air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, secondhand smoke and chemicals, he confirmed that, among the 3 million cases of cancer declared each year in Europe, 10% is attributable to exposure to pollution.
And it is, moreover, of a downward calculation. View that for a number of pollutants, such as chemicals, the causal link is suspect but not yet scientifically proven.
Not just bad news
There is also the good news, though. In fact, according to the study, «most of these environmental and cancer risks it can be reduced by preventing pollution and modifying behavior“. In short, as usual, it would be to carry out those actions so strongly requested by scientists and expertsbut too uninteresting for politics.
Environmental risks associated with the onset of cancer
With regard to air pollution, this is linked to around 1% of all cancer cases in Europe and causes around 2% of all cancer deaths. If you take them specifically lung tumors this rises to 9% of deaths.
Speaking, instead, of exposure to radon, indoor exposure is estimated to be linked to up to 2% of all cancer cases and one in ten lung cancer cases in Europe. The natural ultraviolet radiationon the other hand, they can be responsible for up to 4% of all cancer cases in Europe.
How bad is secondhand smoke
Passing by exposure to secondhand smokethis can increase the overall risk of all cancers by up to 16% in people who have never been smokers.
As for some chemical substances used in European workplaces and released into the environment, their cancerousness is known. Of others, however, such as lead, arsenic, chromium, etc., the harmful effect is strongly suspected, but scientific proof is not yet available.
Asbestos is outlawed but …
And again, all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic and associated with mesothelioma, as well as cancers of the larynx and ovaries. It is estimated that they also account for 55-88% of occupational lung cancers.
Although the EU banned asbestos in 2005, it remains present in buildings and infrastructures, causing the exposure of workers involved in the renovation and demolition works. Furthermore, tumors continue to appear many years after exposure.
Pollution and cancer: what the EU does
The EU has already adopted severe measures on air pollution under the National Emissions Reduction Commitments Directive (NEC) and the directives on ambient air qualitywhich set air quality standards for Europe.
The European Commission has launched a revision of the directives on ambient air quality with the aim, among other things, of better aligning air quality standards with the latest ones air quality guidelines of the World Health Organization.
According to Hans Bruyninckx, executive director of the EEA «the reduction of pollution through the EU action plan for zero pollution and the chemical strategy for sustainability, as well as a strong implementation of other existing EU policies, they would do a lot to reduce cancer cases and deaths. And this would be a truly effective investment for the well-being of our citizens ».
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