Air Pollution May Raise Risk of Lung Cancer

Feb. 11, 2000
According to a recent study, people who live in cities are exposed to substantial levels of air pollutants that may cause a small increase in the risk of cancer.

People who live in cities are exposed to substantial levels of air pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), according to study findings reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

This exposure may cause a small increase in the risk of cancer, researchers reported.

PAHs are released into the air by the burning of coal, wood, fuel, garbage, tobacco and meat.

In cities, the most common source of these pollutants are factories, exhaust from cars, and cigarette smoking.

When inhaled, these small particles may become lodged deep within the lungs, and may increase the risk of lung cancer.

In the study, a research team led by Dr. Denis Zmirou at Grenoble University in France measured personal exposure to PAHs during the summer and winter in Grenoble, a city of approximately 400,000 people.

During a 48-hour period, 38 volunteers carried a personal air sampler that measures air quality.

The investigators detected potentially troublesome levels of PAHs in the air, especially in areas near traffic congestion.

Levels of pollutants were 3 to 25 times higher in winter, probably due in part to PAHs given off by heaters and furnaces.

Compared with people who work in factories, ordinary city dwellers are exposed to relatively low levels of PAHs, but the pollutants are still a reason for concern, according to the study authors.

They estimated that exposure to PAHs causes approximately one case of lung cancer every two years in a city the size of Grenoble.

"Owing to the relatively low exposures encountered in non-occupational settings, the cancer risk estimated associated with the atmospheric PAHs in this study is modest, yet of public health concern," Zmirou and colleagues concluded.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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