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Cancer: A lethal outcome of environmental pollution

Shikha Shokeen

Created on February 3, 2022

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CANCER: A lethal outcome of Environmental pollution

This is a long researched topic. With the deteriorating health of our environment, our health is also getting equally impacted. Be it air, water, or soil, every component of nature is contaminated, which is having adverse effects on our health.

Types of Cancers

What is cancer?

Melanoma

Carcinoma

Most common form of cancer and it orginates from epithilial cells.

Originates from melanocytes, which are a type of cell that contains pigments.

Cancer is a disease in which some of the body cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Normally human cells grow and multiply to form new cells. In this process, the old cells die. But, sometimes, this process is hindered by the abnormal growth of some damaged cells, which multiply when they shouldn't. These cells then form tumors that are lumps of tissues, which can be either benign(non-cancerous) or malignant (Cancerous), which further travels to nearby tissues.

Lymphoma and Leukaemia

Sarcoma

Originates from connective tissues, such as cartilage, fat and bone tissues.

Originates from blood comprising cells.

Source: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

AIR POLLUTION AND CANCER

Breast Cancer

Lung Cancer

The mortality rate is 80% higher in patients suffering from breast cancer due to unhealthy air conditions.

The mortaility rate is 36% more in patients suffering with Lung cancer due to air pollution.

In 2022, air pollution is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to health for India. India has 21 out of 30, most polluted cities in the world.This is not it, according to a study of 2016, it is seen that almost 140 million people breathe intoxicated air, which according to WHO is 10 times more polluted than the safe limits. We are losing 2 million people every year just cause of the adverse effects of air pollution in India.

Liver Cancer

Upper Digestive Track Cancer

Polluted air conditions cause 35% higher mortality risks in patients suffering from liver and other accessory digestive organ cancers.

Polluted air conditions cause 42% higher mortality risks in patients suffering from upper digestive track cancers.

Causes of air pollution in our country are vast, but industrial emissions and vehicle emissions are the major contributors.

50%

of Lung cancer patients are Non-Smokers in India.

Water POLLUTION AND CANCER

Drinking water that is rich in heavy metals like arsenic is a direct cause of many kinds of cancers. Arsenic contaminated water is linked to stomach and lung cancer, also many respiratory, heart, and neurological disorders. It is also seen, that it can cause stillbirths as well. Research at Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Center in Patna suggests that “out of 28 states in India, reports of Arsenic contamination have emerged from 17 states.” Inner Voice Foundation, a civil society group working on Arsenic contamination has said that around 10 lakh people have died in the last 25 years because of diseases caused by exposure to arsenic.

“Currently around 200 districts in the northern part of the country in the Gangetic plain is at risk of drinking water contaminated by arsenic in India,”

Irrigation

Rock Erosion

Contaminated groundwater used to irrigate field. This ground water has accumulated heavy metals like arsenic.

Arsenic enter the atmosphere through rock erosion, mining activities, volcanic erruptions or forest fires.

Drinking Water

Cooking

Main source of arsenic is drinking water, usually from wells. This water gets filtered from arsenic rich rocks.

Arsenic intake multiplies when communities use same arsenic contaminated water to cook food.

Soil POLLUTION AND CANCER

95% of the food that we eat is directly or indirectly produced from the soil. These can be both plant and animal products as they depend on the nutrients provided by the soil. So, soil contamination has huge effects on human health.WHO estimates that around 24 percent of the global population is affected by soil-transmitted helminths (parasitic worms), affecting primarily the poorest communities that don't have adequate sanitary measures. WHO has also identified top ten contaminants of human health concern (WHO, 2010), of which nine are soil contaminants, due to the well-known impacts on human health and wide geographical incidence.

Here are the effects of heavy metals and pollutants that are found in soil on human health

Source: FAO.org

What can you do to prevent Cancer?

Apart from doing your part to prevent pollution, there are some measures that you can adapt to prevent cancer.

  • Starting with, try to buy organic fruits and vegetables as they have fewer chances of having heavy metal contamination.
  • Try to avoid heavy traffic areas to save yourself from vehicle pollution.
  • Avoid drinking unfiltered water or using unfiltered water.