Air Pollution Linked to High Risk of Oral Cancer: Study

Higher levels of air pollution may be linked to a heightened risk of developing oral cancer, which includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, a study has found.

While mouth cancers have been associated with smoking, drinking, human papilloma virus, and the chewing of betel quid (paan), the study added to this list increased levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and to lesser extent, ozone.

Researchers including Shou-Jen Lan, Professor at the Asia University, in Taiwan, said:

This study, with a large sample size, is the first to associate oral cancer with PM2.5. These findings add to the growing evidence on the adverse effects of PM2.5 on human health.