In an analysis of nearly 50 recently published scientific papers, the researchers provided a summary of the future effects of global warming on cancers, from environmental toxins to ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, infectious agents and disruption of food and water supplies.

Ultimately, the biggest challenge to the global cancer picture is likely to stem from the disruption of the complex healthcare systems needed for cancer diagnosis, treatment and care. said research. This review has been published in the recent journal The Lancet Oncology .

“ In the The fight to mitigate climate change worldwide, the international community is not oriented towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 2015-2019 is the year when the warmest global climate has been recorded and 2020 is the year that has seen enormous impacts on the climate, from wildfires to severe floods and storms ”.

The health impacts of climate change are very large and are expected to continue to increase without rapid response. High temperatures, poor air quality and wildfires result in higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Warmer temperatures and variable rainfall increase the risk and spread of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever.

The study authors emphasize that extreme weather events cause casualties, loss, displacement and disruption of health care.

Cancer is predicted to be the leading cause of death in the 21st century. Worldwide, there were 24.5 million new cancer cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2017, a significant increase from in 2008 with 12.7 million cases and 7.6 million deaths.

The biggest threats to cancer can be attributed to air pollution, exposure to extreme radiation and industrial toxins, and disruptions to food and water supplies, the authors say. Lung cancer, the main cause of cancer deaths worldwide, is expected to increase due to frequent exposure to particles in polluted air. It is estimated to cause about 15% of new cases.

However, the overall impact of climate change on nutrition-related cancers is difficult to determine. A comprehensive modeling study has predicted more than half a million climate-related deaths globally, including cancer deaths, due to changes in food supplies by 2050, for example. such as reducing your consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Climate change has exacerbated social and economic inequality, leading to higher rates of migration and poverty. The authors note that poor people and communities of color are disproportionately affected by cancer and have higher cancer mortality rates. The World Bank estimates that climate change will push 100 million people globally back into poverty by 2030.

Major disruptions are expected also for infrastructure in the healthcare system that controls cancer and could affect all cancers. The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear example of this disruption, leaving the medical resources inadequate to serve cancer patients and causing thousands of patients to delay cancer screening for fear of infection. .

“ Extreme weather events like storms and floods can destroy or damage healthcare infrastructure, reducing the quality and availability of healthcare services. These events also disrupt the provision of services by causing power shortages, supply chain disruptions, shipping and communications, and resulting in shortages of staff. Ironically, Covid-19 also revealed a ray of hope in reversing the damage , ”said the study’s author.

"The pandemic’s early response has resulted in a significant reduction in air pollution, demonstrating the potential of drastic measures leading to rapid environmental change, " Hiatt said .

It can take decades to fully understand the impact of climate change on cancer, given the sometimes long exposure to clinical diagnosis. But the authors argue that should not preclude action now, as the harmful effects from air pollution and other climate risks will continue to increase during that time.

“ There are many things we can do to mitigate climate change and reduce the impact of cancer. We should act both at the same time and with great urgency. ”, Naomi Beyeler, MPH, Co-Director of Climate and Health Lead and Evidence Initiative, Global Health Sciences, UCSF Institute , said.

By minimizing pollution, death from lung cancer can be reduced, and there are many clinical, behavioral, and policy solutions available to slow climate change, prevent cancer cases and deaths.

“ The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us the importance of science and public health, and over the past few months, we have seen that as a global medical community we can exert an investments, research and collective action. needed to tackle health problems on a global scale. Now is the time to apply this ambition to address the climate crisis , ”added Beyeler.