A new study published in the journal Nature has identified fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as a significant contributor to cancer, linking it to 8.82 million cases worldwide between 2000 and 2020. Researchers found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic metre increase in PM2.5, the risk of developing cancer rises by 16 per cent. The findings indicate that these pollutants, which enter the bloodstream, are associated with cancers of the reproductive and endocrine systems, as well as the thyroid, breast, kidney, and bladder.
The research highlights a growing health crisis in India, where air quality frequently exceeds World Health Organisation guidelines. According to the 2023 IQAir World Air Quality Report, nine of the ten most polluted cities globally are in India. Medical experts are increasingly concerned as lung cancer, now the leading cause of cancer mortality in the country, is being diagnosed more frequently in non-smokers and women.
Scientists suggest that PM2.5 particles promote cancer through mechanisms such as DNA damage, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. With India's annual average PM2.5 concentration significantly higher than international safety standards, institutions like AIIMS are conducting further research into the long-term health impacts. The study reinforces the classification of PM2.5 as a group 1 human carcinogen by the WHO-IARC.
