Air pollution
Cancer (lung cancer)

Around 300,000 lung cancer deaths were attributed globally in 2019 to exposure to fine particulate matter, PM, suspended in the air. PM exposure, such as from car exhausts, activates dormant mutations in lung cells, causing them to become cancerous.

Long-term exposure to PM (fine particulates) increases the overall risk of non-accidental mortality by 6% per 10 μg/m increase. Exposure to PM is also associated with an increased risk of mortality from lung cancer (range: 15–21% per 10 μg/m increase) and total cardiovascular mortality (range: 12–14% per 10 μg/m increase).

The review further noted that living close to busy traffic appears to be associated with elevated risks of these three outcomes – increase in lung cancer deaths, cardiovascular deaths, and overall non-accidental deaths. The reviewers also found suggestive evidence that exposure to PM is positively associated with mortality from coronary heart diseases and exposure to SO increases mortality from lung cancer, but the data was insufficient to provide solid conclusions. Another investigation showed that higher activity level increases deposition fraction of aerosol particles in human lung and recommended avoiding heavy activities like running in outdoor space at polluted areas.

In 2011, a large Danish epidemiological study found an increased risk of lung cancer for people who lived in areas with high nitrogen oxide concentrations. Another Danish study, likewise noted evidence of possible associations between air pollution and other forms of cancer, including cervical cancer and brain cancer.
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