Delhi's ever-soaring air pollution level could be triggering cancer in kids. A study conducted by the Newcastle University in the UK has found that incidences of neuroblastic cancer could be related to aggravated environmental factors such as influenza and air pollution. Neuroblastic cancers are a special type of tumour occurring on the nervous system, outside of the brain and spinal cord, and predominantly affect children up to age five.
The scientists studied the Northern Region Young Persons' Malignant Disease Registry (NRYPMDR) for cancers reported in northern England from 1968 to 2015. They found that the neuroblastic cancers occurred in mini-epidemics, that is, more frequently in certain decades, and were geographically widespread. This suggests that environmental factors like air pollution and winds carrying infections could be playing a significant role besides genetic factors.
The authors advise that similar data analysis be carried out in other countries and cities, such as Delhi, for plausible links with cancer in children. Mail Today spoke to the lead author of the study, Dr Richard McNally, from the Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University. Dr McNally said over phone: "Our study covered a span of 43 years and a population of 900,000 young persons in northern England. What we discovered was that neuroblastic tumours spread over a large geographical area but clubbed into a certain period of time… The only explanation for this is involvement of short-term environmental agents such as infections and air pollution." Dr McNally strongly advised that such investigation be carried out in Delhi too. "Delhi has a big air pollution problem and we have known about it for quite some time. We definitely suggest that experts look into this."
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revealed that childhood cancer cases, of which neuroblastoma is third most common, have gone up from 2.5 per cent to over 5.5 per cent of all reported cancers in India since 1995. Of the seven lakh Indians who fall prey to cancer each year, roughly 40,000 are children. More so, Delhi throws up the bulk of new cases - 149 per 10 lakh population annually - second only to Chennai which records a higher 159. Dr Meenu Walia, director, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Patparganj, and a medical oncologist, said: "There is indirect evidence available for the link between air pollution and cancer. Neuroblastoma in children could possibly be related to weakened immunity from repeated bouts of influenza due to sustained bad air." "Also, cancer is growing at a high rate. Definitely, more national and international studies are needed on this," she added.
