Scientists have found a link between air pollution and lung cancer. A drug used to block the trigger is now being tested for other things. Could we one day have a pill that you can take to reduce your risk? The best way to resolve this is by reducing pollution, scientists say.
According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths every year. We’ve known for a long time that air pollution causes lots of health problems, including lung cancer – but exactly how the two were linked was somewhat of mystery. Last week, a team from the Francis Crick Institute and University College London presented findings that shed new light on the role between air pollution and lung cancer. And, in doing so, could make us rethink how cancer develops. Madeleine Finlay speaks to the Guardian’s science correspondent Hannah Devlin about how scientists uncovered this link – and what it might mean for the future of the field.. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod