Exposure to pollutants including smog, carcinogenic chemicals, radon, UV radiation and secondhand smoke together can account for more than 10 percent of cancer cases in Europe, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
EEA: Pollution linked to 10 percent of cancer cases in Europe
Published June 29, 2022 08:10
This is the first report by this EU agency that links the problem of cancer with environmental pollution. The report estimates that environmental and occupational risks account for around 10 percent of cancer cases in Europe.
The proportion of premature deaths from cancer due to environmental factors is not distributed equally across the continent. In the Scandinavian countries, it is less than 2 percent. In Turkey and a large part of the Balkan countries - over 6 percent. Poland is in the group of countries with a relatively high (between 4-6%) percentage of such deaths - next to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece (data for 2019).
The report recalls that nearly three million Europeans receive a diagnosis of cancer every year, and 1.3 million die of cancer. The report states that by removing pollutants, we reduce the risk of developing cancer - but these actions will have postponed effects (just like cancer today bills the bill for the pollution that accompanied the inhabitants of Europe even a dozen, twenty or more years ago. - Every year in Europe in Europe) It is estimated that over a quarter of a million human lives die from environmental cancer, commented Stella Kyriakides from the EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner in the media.- The findings of the European Environment Agency show very clearly how our planet's health and health our citizens are closely intertwined. We have to work with nature, not against it, "she added.
