Cancer and The Environment

Abstract

The evidence that problems in the environment are causing cancer is reviewed. Although there is concern that our environ ment is deteriorating, there is little evidence that this is leading to an increased cancer burden as, although rates in the elderly have been increasing, rates in younger people are declining. It is estimated that only about 5 % of cancers are due to environ mental factors and more than half of these are due to the geophysical properties ofthe environment, rather than manmade pollutants. Hazards to which people are exposed at work do contribute to increased cancer rates. Once such a hazard is identified then legislation is used to limit, or eliminate, exposure to it, both at work and in the environment. This paper describes certain specific hazards, but concludes that the largest contribution to cancer prevention would be a reduction in smoking rather than any environmental measure.