A new study from McGill University finds high incidence of lung and brain cancer in people exposed to fire. The study, which tracks more than two million Canadians over a 20-year period, begins to explore how exposure to forest fires could contribute to cancer risk.
Wildfires usually occur in the same areas year after year, but we know very little about the long-term health effects of these events. Our research suggests that staying close to wildfires may increase the risk of certain cancers” said Scott Weichenthal, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health at McGill University.
Published in The Lancet Planetary Health, this study shows that people living in the 50-kilometer area of veld fires over the past 10 years had a 10 percent higher incidence of brain tumors and 4.9 percent higher lung cancer, compared to people living farther away.
Impacts of climate change on human health
With climate change, veld fires are predicted to be widespread, severe, and prolonged in the future – and are increasingly being recognized as a global health problem. “Many of the pollutants emitted by wildfires are known to human carcinogens, suggesting that exposure may increase the risk of cancer in humans,” said Jill Korsiak, a PhD student at Professor Weichenthal’s laboratory who led the study.
Volcanic eruptions often occur in the same region each year, and as a result, people living in nearby communities may be exposed to cancer-causing pollutants for a long time, warn researchers.
Continuous hazardous pollution
In addition to affecting air quality, veld fires also pollute water, soil, and the indoor environment. Although some pollutants return to normal after a fire has stopped burning, other chemicals may remain in place for a long time, including heavy metals and hydrocarbons. “Exposure to hazardous pollutants may continue beyond the burning of several exposure channels,” adds Professor Weichenthal.
However, further research is needed to understand the complex mix of pollutants emitted by wildfires, note researchers. They also recognize that more work is needed to improve the long-term estimates of the chronic health effects of veld fires.
Source Journal Reference: Jill Korsiak, Lauren Pinault, Tanya Christidis, Richard T Burnett, Michal Abrahamowicz, Scott Weichenthal. Long-term exposure to wildfires and cancer incidence in Canada: a population-based observational cohort study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 2022; 6 (5): e400 DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00067-5
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