Environment
Introduction
Human cancer can arise from a combination of internal genetic alterations and external
factors, as current biological mechanisms of cancer, including malignancies, stem from both
heredity and the environment. One of the main priorities is preventing carcinogen exposure. 1.
Some people may be more susceptible than others to the effects of environmental exposures due
to specific genetic predispositions.
Bladder cancer is caused by aromatic amines, which are present in many chemical
workers. DNA methylation is closely related to histone deacetylases and histone
methyltransferases, which can change the lysine at the end of histones and produce different
histone codes. 2The development of inactive chromatin because of this process gives cancer cells
their unique feature. It is well known that thousands of genes are dysregulated in cancer cells. 2
Air, water, and biosphere particles can all that air pollution consist of that can lead to lung
cancer, heart disease, and other respiratory infections. 3 Particulate matter, ozone damage,
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, radioactive decay
of radon gas, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons are the principal causes of
air pollution.3
Individuals who consume unhealthy foods and engage in little physical activity may be
more susceptible to a number of illnesses. 4Cancers of the esophagus, breast, uterus, colon,
rectum, and prostate are more common in obese individuals. High levels of estrogen produced by
fat tissue are associated with an increased risk of cancers. 4 Additionally, elevated blood levels of
insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in obese individuals may contribute to the development of
some malignancies. Fat cells generate two substances that can either stimulate or hinder cell
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Environment
proliferation: leptin and adiponectin. Aspergillus, a fungus, naturally produces aflatoxins, which
are poisonous and carcinogenic mycotoxins.
UV radiation is emitted by sunlamps, tanning salons, and the sun itself. It results in
premature skin aging, which increases the risk of skin cancer.4 There are three different kinds of
solar radiation: UV light, infrared light (which heats), and visible light. UV rays from the sun and
tanning may harm skin, resulting in sunburns, freckles, malignancies (melanoma, squamous cell
carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma), and the breakdown of collagen and elastin proteins.4
Radiation from space, such as radioactive fallout, radon gas, and x-rays, can cause
cancers in the stomach, thyroid, breast, lung, and blood. Radon is an odorless, tasteless, and
radioactive gas. It develops in rocks and soil. Lung cancer is more common in those who have
been exposed to radon.5 Physicians diagnose broken bones with low-dose radiation and treat
cancer with high-dose radiation. Energy manifested as electromagnetic waves or fast-moving
particles is called radiation.5 It is obvious that exposure to ionizing and UV radiation can cause
cancer. Skin cancers other than melanoma, which are by far the most common cancers in human
populations, are mostly caused by exposure to solar UV radiation.5
Conclusion
In summarization, environmental exposures that act as catalysts for the initiation and
progression of tumor development, cancer is a complex genetic disease. There is strong evidence
in the scientific literature that occupational and environmental factors can cause cancer.6 This
will provide complete backing for a more rapid attempt to avoid exposure to carcinogens. Apart
from the aforementioned evidence, there exist numerous other indications suggesting a
connection between environmental exposures and a range of human cancers.6
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Environment
References
1. Parsa N. Environmental factors inducing human cancers. Iran J Public Health.
2012;41(11):1-9. Epub 2012 Nov 1. PMID: 23304670; PMCID: PMC3521879
2. Thong T, Forté CA, Hill EM, Colacino JA. Environmental exposures, stem cells, and cancer.
Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Dec;204:107398. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107398. Epub 2019
Jul 31. PMID: 31376432; PMCID: PMC6881547.
3. Coppedè F. Genes and the Environment in Cancer: Focus on Environmentally Induced DNA
Methylation Changes. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Feb 6;15(4):1019. doi:
10.3390/cancers15041019. PMID: 36831363; PMCID: PMC9953779.
4. Mbemi A, Khanna S, Njiki S, Yedjou CG, Tchounwou PB. Impact of Gene-Environment
Interactions on Cancer Development. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov
3;17(21):8089. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218089. PMID: 33153024; PMCID: PMC7662361.
5. Turner MC, Andersen ZJ, Baccarelli A, Diver WR, Gapstur SM, Pope CA 3rd, Prada D,
Samet J, Thurston G, Cohen A. Outdoor air pollution and cancer: An overview of the current
evidence and public health recommendations. CA Cancer J Clin. 2020 Aug
25:10.3322/caac.21632. doi: 10.3322/caac.21632. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32964460;
PMCID: PMC7904962.
6. Cani M, Turco F, Butticè S, Vogl UM, Buttigliero C, Novello S, Capelletto E. How Does
Environmental and Occupational Exposure Contribute to Carcinogenesis in Genitourinary
and Lung Cancers? Cancers (Basel). 2023 May 19;15(10):2836. doi:
10.3390/cancers15102836. PMID: 37345174; PMCID: PMC10216822.
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