What do we know about the role of environmental factors (asbestos, radon, fine particles, pesticides, etc.) in the development of cancer? The National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) brought together two groups of researchers with the mission of establishing the state of current knowledge on the links between the environment and nine cancers whose incidence has increased over the past 20 years. last years. Namely lung cancer, mesothelioma, hematologic malignancies, brain tumors, breast, ovarian, testicular, prostate and thyroid cancers. The fruit of their labor is contained in a thick volume – 900 pages in total – published this month of October 2008 by Inserm editions (1).
It was at the request of Afsset, the French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, that these researchers with multidisciplinary skills (epidemiology, toxicology, occupational medicine, etc.) analyzed nearly 1,800 available scientific articles. in the first half of 2007.
Their recommendations are manifold. For example, “strengthen the information of users of pesticides for professional or domestic use” or “promote the use of devices to reduce the emission of fine and ultrafine particles from motor vehicles and in particular heavy goods vehicles, heavy machinery , buses which are the strongest transmitters “. Several studies have shown an association between airborne particles and lung cancer.
Although comprehensive, this report also leaves many unanswered questions and topical controversies. And for good reason. Research needs to be supported. Let us cite the case of pesticides. Only arsenic is currently classified among the proven carcinogens (captafol and ethylene dibromide are considered as probable carcinogens and 18 molecules including DDT as possible carcinogens). The need to intensify studies is therefore essential to “better understand the risk associated with the use of these products”. And the experts insist: “The effects of chronic exposures to low doses of pollutants and those of mixtures remain an unresolved problem.”
(1) Cancer and the environment, Editions Inserm, October 2008, 65 euros. On sale in specialized bookstores and Lavoisier bookstore in Paris.
