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Environment and health
Various human health risks in relation to development and economic growth and Causes of death
Top graph: From traditional to modern health risks, this “health transition” scheme describes the relation between development and health, distinguishing behavioural risks and the correlated diseases and death causes. Some risks are specifically related to developing countries (blue part of the scheme), others are typically worrying in developed countries (brown part) and some occur everywhere (blue and brown intersection). Bottom graph: Comparison between 2008 and 2030 projected causes of death for 2 income groups.showing the growing projected imoortance of cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
Percentage of premature cancer deaths attributable to environmental risks in Europe in 2019
Air pollution
Air pollution (indoor and outdoor) is a major environmental risk for health in Europe, and a known cause of cancer, in particular of the lung. Though air pollution has improved on average in Europe, we are on average far from safe levels, with key cancer-causing pollutants like PM2.5 having no safe thresholds.
Radon
Indoor radon in buildings is a major cause of lung cancer in Europe, a risk enhanced by exposure to air pollution and tobacco smoke. Although radon comes into the buildings from natural sources, that doesn't make it any less hazardous. Exposure to indoor radon can and should be reduced through well tested technical and policy solutions.
UV radiation
UV Radiation from the sun is a strong and ubiquitous risk factor for skin cancer and melanoma in Europe. UV Radiation affects particularly light-skinned populations and causes almost 4% of all cancer cases in Europe, and this trend is not abating. More awareness and basic prevention is needed to curb the incidence of UV-linked cancers.
Second-hand smoke
Second hand smoke increases the risk of cancer, particularly of the lung, even in people who have never smoked themselves. Around 31% of the European population on average is exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke at home, at work, during leisure activities, in educational institutions or in public settings. That exposure can be significantly reduced by implementing total smoking bans in public places.
Chemicals
Many chemicals in the environment and the workplaces are known or suspected carcinogens. Some can cause cancer in various target organs. While we have estimates for some substances, we are not certain about the overall contribution of chemical carcinogens to the burden of cancer in Europeans. Many chemicals on the market and in the environment have not undergone exhaustive carcinogenicity testing, and significant knowledge gaps remain on the potential carcinogenic effects of low levels of exposure to combinations of chemicals throughout our lifetime.
Asbestos
All forms of Asbestos are known carcinogens, causing mainly (but not only) mesothelioma and lung cancer. Despite being banned since 2005, exposure to asbestos continues to happen and cancer cases due to asbestos exposure in the past will continue to be detected. Of special concern currently and in the foreseeable future are workers who may be exposed to asbestos in the context of building renovations and demolitions.
Beating cancer — the role of Europe’s environment
Cancer affects the lives of many Europeans. Environmental and occupational exposure to air pollution, radon, UV radiation, chemical carcinogens, asbestos and other risks contributes significantly to the high burden of cancer in Europe. However, all environmental and occupational cancer risk factors are largely preventable. This web report provides a brief overview of the evidence on the environmental and occupational determinants of cancer in Europe and of EU policy responses.
The impacts of endocrine disrupters on wildlife, people and their environments – The Weybridge+15 (1996–2011) report
Rates of endocrine diseases and disorders, such as some reproductive and developmental harm in human populations, have changed in line with the growth of the chemical industry, leading to concerns that these factors may be linked. For example, the current status of semen quality in the few European countries where studies have been systematically conducted, is very poor: fertility in approximately 40 % of men is impaired. There is also evidence of reproductive and developmental harm linked to impairments in endocrine function in a number of wildlife species, particularly in environments that are contaminated by cocktails of chemicals that are in everyday use. Based on the human and wildlife evidence, many scientists are concerned about chemical pollutants being able to interfere with the normal functioning of hormones, so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), that could play a causative role in these diseases and disorders. If this holds true, then these 'early warnings' signal a failure in environmental protection that should be addressed.