Air pollution and cancer: Growing concern in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

Air pollution has become a major health issue affecting billions of people and effects are more pronounced in low- and Middle-income countries (LMICs). Air pollution is a major contributor to the burden of disease worldwide. Most of the global population resides in places where air pollution levels exceed the WHO acceptable limits, caused by various industries, power generation, transportation, and domestic burning. More than 85% of total air pollution death are observed in LMICs. There are many carcinogens that are found in air pollution. There is substantial evidence from studies of humans and experimental animals as well as mechanistic evidence to support a causal link between outdoor (ambient) air pollution and cancer.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• childhood cancer
• low- and middle-income countries
• lung cancer
• pollution