Air pollution and cancer risks: a review of meta-analyses

Abstract

Relevance: Air pollution, recognized by the World Health Organization as a global threat due to its contribution to the development of chronic and oncological diseases, is of particular concern in megacities such as Almaty, where pollution levels significantly exceed acceptable norms and poses a serious risk to vulnerable population groups.
The study aimed to systematically review meta-analyses focused on the effect of air pollution on the risk of developing various types of cancer, most relevant to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Methods: This systematic review included publications from the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from 2000 to February 18, 2025. Only meta-analyses were included to investigate the association of air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, O3, VOCs, and others) with cancer. Relative risk (RR) parameters and pollutant concentrations were extracted for the analysis.

Results: The review revealed significant correlations between exposure to air pollutants and an increased risk of developing several cancers. The effect of pollutants on the risk of cancer is presented.

Conclusion: Air pollution is recognized as a significant risk factor for cancer and cancer mortality. In this regard, it is necessary to develop state and individual environmental measures, including the implementation of IT and hardware solutions for monitoring and improving air quality in residential and workspaces.