Risks of Pollution

Cancer Society Focuses on Risks of Pollution

By Nancy Walsh, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Published: October 28, 2009 Although many carcinogens have been removed from working and living environments, many potential hazards remain, including building materials, additives or contaminants in food and water, and pollutants, indoors and out, the American Cancer Society reported in a major statement on environmental dangers. The statement is part of an ACS program to explore and elucidate the links between pollution and cancer, including a position statement outlining the organization's methods, goals, and overall role in prevention. "The ACS's prevention activities take many forms, but are primarily focused on modifiable risk factors that have been demonstrated to have a substantial impact on cancer risk in human populations," Elizabeth T.H. Fontham, DrPH, of Louisiana State University in New Orleans, and colleagues wrote in November/December issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians./.../