The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has warned that long-term exposure to air pollution significantly increases both the risk of developing cancer and dying from it, underscoring the urgent need for stronger environmental and public health policies.
The warning is contained in a new global report, “Clean Air in Cancer Control: An Overview of the Evidence,” released on Monday with support from the Clean Air Fund.
According to the report, prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) raises the overall risk of developing cancer by 11 per cent and increases cancer-related mortality by 12 per cent. The sharpest increases were recorded in liver and colorectal cancers, while breast cancer mortality rose by 20 per cent. Mortality also increased by 14 per cent for liver cancer and 12 per cent for lung cancer.
The report further found that exposure to larger particles (PM10) is associated with a 10 per cent higher risk of developing cancer and a 13 per cent increased risk of dying from lung cancer.
Chief Executive Officer of UICC, Cary Adams, said that while progress has been made in reducing global cancer deaths, air pollution remains a “silent but significant threat.”
“We have made huge strides in reducing deaths from cancer, but polluted air is silently undermining that progress.
It is a risk people cannot opt out of, and one that disproportionately affects women, children and people living in poverty.”
The report highlights that women and children—particularly those exposed to smoke from solid fuels used for cooking and heating—face heightened risks. Women exposed to household air pollution have a 69 per cent higher risk of lung cancer, alongside increased risks of other cancers.
It noted that the burden is heaviest in low- and middle-income countries, where limited capacity to control pollution and restricted access to timely cancer care exacerbate existing health inequalities.
Globally, ambient air pollution is estimated to contribute to about 434,000 lung cancer deaths annually.
Head of Health at the Clean Air Fund, Nina Renshaw, called for urgent government action.
“Cleaner air is essential to both cancer prevention and improving survival. Without it, decades of investment in cancer research and treatment will be undermined.”
She urged governments to enforce emission standards, accelerate the transition to clean energy, and integrate air quality targets into national cancer control strategies.
The report identifies proven interventions, including cleaner energy adoption, improved urban planning, stricter transport and industrial emission controls, and expanded air quality monitoring, as critical to reducing exposure.
While more than 140 countries have air quality standards, only about one-third effectively enforce them, the report notes.
Commissioned by UICC and conducted by the The George Institute for Global Health, the study synthesised findings from 42 studies published between 2019 and 2024. It warns that without decisive action, rising air pollution could undermine global efforts to curb cancer, particularly in developing countries with fragile health systems.
