By Nomore Chinoda
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a department within the World Health Organisation (WHO) says outdoor air pollution is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths.
IARC says over 200 000 people worldwide died of lung cancer triggered by air pollution in 2010 and more than half of these deaths occurred inrapid industrialization associated East Asian countries.
Besides risking the increase of heart and respiratory diseases, air pollution has been officially linked to cancer deaths.
“The air we breathe has become polluted with a mixture of cancer-causing substances,” says Dr. Kurt Straif, head of the 1ARC monographs section.
“We now know that outdoor air pollution is not only a risk of to health in general but also leads to environmental cause of cancer deaths,” he added.
He said their findings apply to all regions of the world and that the international community must take mitigation measures without further delays.
IARC also revealed that car exhausts, power stations, agricultural and industrial emissions are the major contributors to air pollution and said the classification should act as a strong message to governments to take action.
Head of research interpretation at the World Cancer Research Fund International Dr. Rachel Thompson said: “This latest evidence confirms the need for governments, industry and multinational bodies to urgently address the environmental causes of cancer.”
In Zimbabwe, cancer cases are rising at an alarming rate with statistics showing that the number of infections recorded between 2007 and 2011 had doubled.
A research carried out by the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) revealed that the country is currently recording an average 7000 new cancer cases annually as compared to 3 349 in 2007.
A recent baseline survey conducted in two districts of Zimbabwe found that women and young children spend an average of 5 hours per day in the kitchen area, where air pollution levels from biomass fuel combustion for cooking tend to be very high.
World Health Organisation (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948 with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
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