The incidence of cancer has risen dramatically in recent decades. Over 11 million people living with cancer in the U.S. and an estimated 44% of men and 38% of women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.** Tobacco smoke is a significant and important cause of cancer. Yet it is linked neither to the majority of cancers nor to many cancers that have increased rapidly in recent decades including melanoma, lymphomas, testicular, brain and bone marrow cancers.
The scientific literature is replete with evidence regarding environmental and occupational links with cancer. We still don't understand everything about the causal web of this chronic disease with its countless tangled stands of stressors and risk factors.
While additional research is crucial, we need to take action now to mitigate known causes. According to estimates from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, millions of U.S. workers are currently exposed to recognized carcinogens. Moreover, these carcinogens can be found as contaminants in our air, water, food, soil, and in some consumer products.
Translating Research and Promoting Prevention
The Environmental Health Program works collaboratively with numerous organizations -- often through the Collaborative on Health and the Environment -- to translate existing research for the broader public. The focus in on environmental and occupational causes of cancer as well as trends in cancer incidence. The goal is to encourage adoption of a comprehensive cancer prevention agenda that includes more prevention-oriented research, programs, and policies associated with these risk factors.
Activities include:
Conducting comprehensive literature reviews and summarizing the state of the science on environmental and occupational contributions to cancer.
In November 2007, we released Environmental and Occupational Causes of Cancer: New Evidence, 2005-2007 [45-page pdf], a review of the current state of the science on environmental and occupational contributions to cancer. This update builds upon a 2005 study that reviewed 30 years of scientific evidence, Environmental and Occupational Causes of Cancer: A Review of the Recent Scientific Literature [50-page pdf].
Preparing fact sheets on occupational and environmental cancer risk factors.
A series of fact sheets were released in 2008-2009 in time for the National Cancer Institute’s President’s Cancer Panel’s meetings on Cancer and Environment. These fact sheets include:
Industrial Carcinogens: A Need for Action
Air and Water Pollutants: A Need for Action
The President’s Cancer Panel is a three-person panel that reports to the President of the United States on the development and execution of the National Cancer Program’s activities. To learn more, visit the Panel's web site.
Working with Silent Spring Institute and the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition to stimulate state-wide research and action associated with the environmental and occupational links with breast cancer.
** Statistics from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology End Results Program (data current through 2006).
