Air pollution increases the risk of throat cancer

Researchers in Taiwan recently shared research results showing that the link between air pollution and throat cancer is very ominous.

In the past, scientists have shown the enormous harms of air pollution to human health. For example, increasing the risk of memory loss, asthma and even changing the structure of the heart.

Currently, at risk from many parts of the world, researchers also point out that high levels of air pollution are also potentially at risk of disease .

In many major cities in the world, there is a situation of air pollution exceeding WHO's warning level.

In a report in the Journal of Medical Investigation, researchers in Taiwan said that to get to the information, they analyzed air pollution data from 66 air quality monitoring stations across the country. The whole country since 2009. Then combined with data from health records of more than 480,000 men aged 40 and older in 2012/13. A total of 1.1617 throat cancer cases were among the data.

The research team focused on the PM2.5 virus dust that is present where patients live. Then categorized into four groups with different levels of influence.

Later, the researchers continued other subjective and objective factors such as smoke, age, etc. The researchers found that the men were exposed to PM2.5 virus concentrations. The highest risk of oral cancer is higher.

Compared to men exposed to the average annual PM2.5 micro dust level of 26.74 micrograms (μg) per cubic meter (m3) of air, those exposed to concentrations of 40.37 μg / m3 or higher has a 43% higher rate of disease development.

Previously, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the level of pollution related to PM2.5 virus must not exceed 10 μg / m ³ . However, this is really impossible when right in central London the annual average data has been found to be double. More disturbing is still much lower than the level of pollution in Taiwan.

According to data from WHO, the annual average of PM2.5 virus in Kabul (Afghanistan) is 86 μg / m ³ , while in Beijing it is 85 μg / m ³ and in Delhi (India) recorded received at 122 μg / m ³ .

However, this new study also faces some controversy because it does not consider the previous exposure of patients in other non-local pollution and it may be higher or lower than the level of pollution. they are currently living.

One of the reviewers is Professor Frank Kelly, from King's College London (UK), who is not involved in the study, saying it would be useful to discover the connection. Between oral cancer and air pollution in other countries.

Professor Frank Kelly said that air pollution is the cause of some types of cancer, such as breast, liver, lung and pancreatic cancers. Therefore, it is not surprising that this new study in Taiwan has shown it to be the cause of throat cancer. However, the concentration of air pollution and smoking rates are much lower in the UK and in the UK, there is no constant chewing, so the results of this study may only be valid in Taiwan.