CANCER AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The evidence that problems in the environment are causing cancer is re viewed. Although there is concern that our environment is deterioratin g, there is little evidence that this is leading to an increased cance r burden as, although rates in the elderly have been increasing, rates in younger people are declining. It is estimated that only about 5 % of cancers are due to environmental factors and more than half of thes e are due to the geophysical properties of the environment, rather tha n manmade pollutants. Hazards to which people are exposed at work do c ontribute to increased cancer rates. Once such a hazard is identified then legislation is used to limit, or eliminate, exposure to it, both at work and in the environment. This paper describes certain specific hazards, but concludes that the largest contribution to cancer prevent ion would be a reduction in smoking rather than any environmental meas ure.