Fatal brain tumours may be linked to air pollution
Groundbreaking brain cancer research funded by the Cancer Research Society.
Recently, Dr. Scott Weichenthal’s groundbreaking research shook Canadians with its findings: what if there was indeed a link between air pollution and brain cancer?
Dr. Weichenthal works out of McGill University’s Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, where he studies environmental factors that determine potential causes and evolutions of diseases.
In this new study, recently published in the journal Epidemiology, Dr. Weichenthal and his team analyzed the medical records and pollution exposure of 1.9 million adult Canadians over a 25-year span and found that a greater exposure to combustion nanoparticles (microscopic air pollution elements found in fuel vehicle exhaust) could increase the likelihood of getting brain cancer by up to 10%.
“Environmental risks like air pollution are not large in magnitude – their importance comes because everyone in the population is exposed,” said Scott Weichenthal, “So when you multiply these small risks by lots of people, all of sudden, there can be lots of cases. In a large city, it could be a meaningful number, particularly given the fact that these tumours are often fatal.”
Dr. Weichenthal is a beneficiary of the Cancer Research Society’s GRePEC program and we are so proud to have contributed to bringing this research to fruition through the generosity of our donors.
Watch Global News’ video coverage of Dr. Weichenthal’s findings below.