Air pollution adversely impacts cancer survival, study finds

Little was known about air quality as a key factor in cancer outcomes till date. Now, the first ever large-scale study of over 1,600 oral cancer patients spanning more than three years has unearthed an alarming link between air pollution and cancer survival rates.

The study examine how different types of air pollution affect cancer survival and found that long-term exposure to fine air particles (PM2.5) significantly affected patient outcomes. Further, the research revealed that patients living in areas with higher levels of air pollution had shorter survival times. Of the 29% of patients who passed away during the study period, over a quarter were victims of air pollution. The impact of black carbon particles is a key cause for concern as it showed the strongest connection to the decreased survival rates.

This groundbreaking research has highlighted the urgent need for better air quality control, specifically for cancer patients. It has firmly established that proactive steps to reduce exposure to pollution is a key factor in cancer care planning.

Read all about it below: