Exposure to air pollution can lead to cancer, stroke, respiratory and cardiovascular diseaseAir pollution is responsible for 7 million deaths every year including 15% deaths because of lung cancer

Dr Sapam Opendro Singh
Exposure to air pollution can lead to cancer, stroke, respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Although cigarette smoking accounts for 80% of the lung cancers, substantial number of lung cancer occurs in non smokers, therefore, relating to air pollution.
In addition to lung cancer, cigarette smoking is also considered an IARC Group 1 carcinogen for cancers of the oral cavity, nasal cavity, pharynx, nasopharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, colorectum, pancreas, liver/bile duct, kidney, renal pelvis/ureter, bladder, ovary, cervix, and myeloid leukemia with limited evidence for other types of cancer, such as breast cancer.
Second hand tobacco smoke has also been suggestively associated with many of these types of cancer.
Air pollution is responsible for 7 million deaths every year including 15% deaths because of lung cancer.
Air pollution contains several mutagens and carcinogens, including PAHs (e.g., benzo (a)pyrene and polar compounds), 114 dioxins, 115 sulfur-containing compounds (SO3, H2SO4),116 and 3- nitrobenzanthrone. These mutagens are associated with abnormal DNA methylation. Remarkably, some studies showed that the number of mutations was three times higher in air pollution-related lung cancers than in lung cancers from low-exposed regions. These mutations were seen across hundreds of genes, including TP53.
Implementing measures to reduce cancer due to outdoor air pollution is challenging. Interventions to reduce air pollution exposure may be considered at different levels including the individual, community, industrial and Government levels. Some strict legislations or regulations may be required at Government level to reduce air pollution.
Interventions related with road traffic emissions, car free policies like walking and cycling, clean air zone, reducing emissions from public transport services and raising public awareness of the ill health effects of outdoor air pollution are of utmost important. Individual level interventions are also required including personal respirators, avoiding outdoor exercise when pollution is high, transport system with walking or cycling, avoidance of wood firing etc.

Dr Sapam Opendro Singh, Senior Consultant and Head Dept of Surgical Oncology, Karkinos Manipur Cancer Institute and Research Centre

About Karkinos Healthcare Manipur : Karkinos Manipur Cancer Institute and Research Centre in Imphal is a comprehensive cancer hospital with all facilities under one roof like radiation oncology, medical oncology and surgical oncology. It is a 150 bedded hospital with fully equipped ICU and OT for handling complicated cancer surgeries backed with an in-house team of experienced Onco-pathologists, technologists, international board of advisors.
It is located at JNIMS Campus, 25 - Soibam Leikai, Porompat, Imphal East - 795005.