Vehicle fumes cause cancer: Experts
Ahmedabad
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Traffic is usually gridlocked at rush hour and the air is choked with diesel fumes. With so many diesel-fuelled vehicles on the roads, you are exposed to a mixture of cancer-causing substances every day . Experts say the time you spent in traffic is one of the definite causes of lung and bladder cancer.
India has reported an increase of 15% in lung cancer cases over the past five years.According to senior oncologist Dr Somesh Chandra, 35% cancer cases are the result of air pollution and sedentary lifestyle.
“Tobacco consumption constitutes 54% of total cancer cases, while 10% are genetic,“ he said. Dr Chandra was delivering a health talk on `Cancer -Its Complications and Treatment' organized by Sterling Hospitals on Saturday .
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Or ganization, has classified outdoor air pollution as a cancer-causing agent (carcinogen).
Dr Chandra said head and neck cancer are the commonest causes of death in men, followed by oral and lung. In women, 50% deaths are due to breast and genital tract cancer.
Dr Nimish Parikh, the hospital's chief of medical administration, said: “It is recommended to get oncology profile done once a year, especially for people above 40 years. It not only becomes the first point of screening, but also enables health professionals to diagnose the cancer at an early stage.