A new global report released this month warns that air pollution poses a significant threat to public health.
The report titled “Clean Air in Cancer Control: An Overview of the Evidence,” the report by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the Clean Air Fund found that prolonged exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing cancer by 11% and the risk of dying from the disease by 12%.
Researchers said exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to higher mortality risks across several cancer types, including a 20% increase for breast cancer, 14% for liver cancer, and 12% for lung cancer.
Beyond these, air pollution is also associated with an 18% increase in colorectal cancer incidence.
The report cited the 2025 State of Global Air report, which estimated that indoor and outdoor air pollution contributed to 7.9 million deaths worldwide, including 434,000 lung cancer cases.
It also found that lower socio-economic households face worse health outcomes, including higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
“While further research is needed to determine the scale of the issue, evidence-based policies are already available to help curb exposure and reduce these risks,” the report said.
Citing data from the World Health Organization, the report noted that 99% of the global population lives in areas with unsafe air quality.
Meanwhile, World Bank data from 2022 estimated that the global cost of health damages linked to air pollution reached $8.1 trillion, equivalent to 6.1% of global GDP.
The report concluded that reducing air pollution could significantly cut global cancer rates and save lives, stressing that clean air is a critical component of cancer prevention worldwide.
“Clean air is not a luxury, it is a fundamental human right—one that underpins health, equity, and sustainable development. Tackling air pollution is not only an environmental priority; it is a cancer prevention strategy, an economic investment and an act of social justice,” the report said.
