Air Pollution can cause cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

DNA

Every year after Diwali, India suffers air pollution problems. It is so obvious that air pollution triggers major health issues in adults as well as children.  The most recent data from the Global Burden of Disease Project indicate that in 2010, 3.2 million deaths worldwide resulted from air pollution, including 223,000 from lung cancer. 

As we know that heavy smog has covered up various cities these days and this smog contains dangerous chemicals like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, manganese dioxide, zinc oxide, nitrates etc. Chemical pneumonitis is the irritation of the lungs or we can say it created breathing difficulty due to inhaling above mentioned few chemical fumes or breathing in and choking on certain chemicals. Chemicals from firecrackers and presented in the smog will penetrate deeper into the lungs which further may lead to stiffness of the lungs, which decreases the ability of the lungs to get oxygen to the body. If left untreated, this condition may ultimately lead to respiratory failure, lung cancer or even death.  

Yes, you heard it right, air pollution is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Most of us think about the risk associated with lung cancer is through smoking cigarettes, but little did we know that air pollution can also causes lung cancer. Actually everyone

is exposed to some air pollution, be it indoor or outdoor; it has an important effect across the population as a whole.  Air pollution contains many chemical components of such as carcinogens, including diesel engine exhaust, solvents, metals, and dust.  

These particles which are bigger can irritate your skin, eyes, nose and throat but our immunity or natural defenses help us to cough or sneeze them out of our bodies. But, unfortunately, those defenses don't keep out smaller particles, which get trapped deep in our lungs and can even get into the bloodstream, causing damage to our health and are linked to lung cancer, and even more research needs to be done on the precise way that these particles start the cancerous process within the lungs. 

For children and elderly people it is advisable to stay indoors, wear a mask every time you step out and avoid morning walks these days as the smog is quite heavy in the morning.