TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Taiwan for 42 consecutive years, with lung cancer and liver cancer consistently holding the first two spots.
Each year in Taiwan, over 10,000 deaths are attributed to lung cancer, and the latest report reveals an astonishing 17,000 new cases. Given the severity of this health issue, extensive research has investigated the primary causes of lung cancer, consistently linking it to air pollution.
Researchers at National Taiwan University found that long-term exposure to air pollution significantly raises the risk of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer. People exposed to PM2.5 for 30 years are 1.044 times more likely to develop lung cancer than heavy smokers.
The correlation between air pollution and lung cancer is particularly pronounced among women, non-smokers, and adults under 65. Prolonged exposure to air pollution significantly increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer.
"Since 2022, lung cancer has surpassed colorectal cancer as Taiwan's most common cancer. Recently, PM2.5 particles from air pollution have increasingly entered our respiratory tracts, leading to the accumulation of carcinogenic substances," said Lin Yu-Cheng (林育正), an attending physician at the Thoracic Medicine Department of Show Chwan Memorial Hospital (秀傳紀念醫院).
Lee Chia-ying (李佳穎), Chief Medical Deputy Superintendent at Show Chwan Memorial Hospital (秀傳紀念醫院), stated that according to governmental statistics, Taiwan's central region has the worst air quality. Lee highlighted, “The incidence of lung cancer is also higher in this region compared to the north and south, likely due to air pollution.”
Public health scholars and physicians are urging the government and all sectors to address air pollution, a critical public health issue affecting all residents of Taiwan.
