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Air pollution linked to lung cancer in non-smokers
Scientists have found exposure to particulate matter PM2.5 - Air Particles which are not gas, and which are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter - promotes the growth of cells in the lungs which carry cancer-causing mutations.
Lead investigator for the Cancer Research UK-funded study at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL, Cancer Research UK Chief Clinician Professor Charles Swanton, said the study had fundamentally changed how lung cancer was viewed in non-smokers.
While air pollution has been linked to various health problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, scientists have now been able to explain how PM2.5 causes cancer in people who have never smoked.
The study looked at data from more than 40,000 people from UK and Asian countries and examined rates of a type of lung cancer known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant lung cancer. Mutations in the EGFR gene are commonly found in lung cancer cases of non-smokers. It was found that there were higher rates of EGFR mutant lung cancer, and other types of cancers, in people living in areas with higher levels of PM2.5 air pollution. Dr William Hill, co-first author of the study, said this evidence highlighted the need to “urgently reduce people’s overall exposure to air pollution”.
Local authorities have legal duties under the Local Air Quality Management statutory guidance to monitor and improve local air quality. Revised policy guidance was produced in August 2022 in response to a consultation undertaken by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Of the 168 responses received, 76 were from local government. One of the questions asked what action local authorities could take to help reduce PM2.5 emissions. Almost half of the respondents indicated a preference for more action to be taken on domestic burning and almost as many identified road transport related actions such as promoting active travel and improving public transport. Other areas highlighted included: improved public communications on PM2.5, increased action and funding from central government and local PM2.5 targets along with the powers needed for local authorities to achieve compliance.
In its response, DEFRA said the Government would be expanding the PM2.5 monitoring network over the next two years to better assess exposure reduction and potential elevated concentrations.
• Read more about Local Air Quality Management statutory duties here: Local Air Quality Management Support Website | DEFRA - https://laqm.defra.gov.uk/
• Find out how the Camden Clean Air Initiative is improving air quality in the London Borough of Camden on page 4 of this edition of Transform Magazine: https://issuu.com/ksagency.co.uk/docs/iese_transform_031_green-environment_online_issue
