Cancer and Climate Change

Cancer and climate change (2020, in The Lancet Oncology)

"Summary
The acute impact of climate change on human health is receiving increased attention, but little is known or appreciated about the effect of climate change on chronic diseases, particularly cancer. This Review provides a synopsis of what is known about climate change and the exposures it generates relevant to cancer. In the context of the world's cancer burden and the probable direction we could expect to follow in the absence of climate change, this scoping review of the literature summarises the effects that climate change is having on major cancers, from environmental exposures to ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, disruptions in the food and water supply, environmental toxicants, and infectious agents. Finally, we explore the effect of climate change on the possible disruption of health systems that have been essential to cancer control practice. We conclude with potential responses and opportunities for intervention."
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Climate change and cancer (2020, Full Text)

News story based on the above:
Climate change threatens progress in cancer control (2020, Full Text)

"Climate change threatens prospects for further progress in cancer prevention and control, increasing exposure to cancer risk factors and impacting access to cancer care, according to a new commentary by scientists from the American Cancer Society and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health."

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Why Oncologists Should Care about Climate Change (2020, ASCO Editorial)

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There was an excellent recent Nova episode, "Can We Cool The Planet?", that IMO is worth seeing. It may be available on demand in your area.

Djin

I hate to be downer, but it has been too late for quite some time. It's a done deal, even if we went to zero emissions immediately.

mattam said...
I hate to be downer, but it has been too late for quite some time. It's a done deal, even if we went to zero emissions immediately.

I agree. this is something that will be obvious in hindsight just like our bungling of the pandemic

I really do recommend the Nova episode above. We really do need to make a start in at least becoming carbon neutral. Technology and smarter generations can build on that.

Djin

Buddy Blank said...
Sorry, no.

Gee Buddy, you should give the Nova episode a try -- it's funded by your friends the Koch brothers. BTW, if I don't reply to anything of yours going forward, it's only because I'm not seeing it.

Djin

clocknut said...
My body has gotten all wrinkled, my ears aren't working as well as they used to, there's less hair on top of my head, I get tired more easily.....I think it's all because of climate change.
OK, I don't mean to make light of climate change. Obviously, a changing climate can have many effects on our world and our health. My wife and I garden, re-cycle everything, drive little, use very little electricity and consume quite little of the earth's resources. But, until there are major, major changes in the way humans interact with the environment, any man-made effect on the world's climate will continue pretty much as is. And it's not helpful that the people telling us to change our ways are some of the worst offenders in the western world with their private jets, yachts, mega-mansions, and wasteful ways of living.
Mostly, though, I think Mother Nature will have her way in spite of our best efforts. The spot I live in in northeastern Illinois was once covered by several hundred feet of ice. In a different geological age, it was tropical and part of a giant inland sea. Climate is always changing, and nature's forces are awesome in their power.
My feeling is that we should all live as simply and wisely as we can and hope for the best. And we should do it not only in the hopes of slowing climate change, but just because we are supposed to be stewards of this planet.

Good points.