Scientists reportedly discovered that fine particles in polluted air activated dormant, pre-existing cancer genes in a person’s lungs, which were inflamed due to breathing in the polluted air. The research helps doctors understand why so many non-smokers tend to develop lung cancer or tumors. Study researchers noted that although smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, the fact that air pollution activates dormant cancer genes should be a wake-up call for everyone. “Globally, more people are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution than to toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke and these new data link the importance of addressing climate health to improving human health,” said Professor Charles Swanton of the Francis Crick Institute. . Read more: Global warming fuels heatwaves, fires, causes more air pollution: UN The long-term study was conducted by the Francis Crick Institute with Cancer Research UK funding the $16 million project. For the research, scientists analyzed a group of more than 400,000 people from the UK, Taiwan and South Korea, measuring their exposure to PM 2.5. “The mechanism we identified could ultimately help us find better ways to prevent and treat lung cancer in never-smokers. The next step is to find out why some lung cells with mutations become cancerous when exposed to pollutants, while others do not.” Professor Swanton added. The study’s findings come in the context of another study conducted in Canada, which revealed that even low levels of pollution can be extremely harmful and, in the long term, cause significant health damage. As reported by WION, the research conducted in Canada found that about 8000 people in the country die every year due to air pollution. It was a surprise as Canada has generally represented extremely low levels of pollution in recent decades. Read more: Low levels of pollution also cause major health damage, study finds The study looked at more than 7 million Canadian citizens between the years 1981 and 2016 along with air pollution data over the same time period. “These findings suggest significant health benefits from continued reductions in air pollution and stricter regulatory standards, including in countries such as Canada and the UK,” Professor Michael Brauer from the University of British Columbia told the Guardian. (With information from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:
