Latest news with #Mataria
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Climate change could be fueling cancer deaths in women
Higher temperatures spurred by climate change could be increasing women's risk of cancer, a new study says. Increasing heat in the Middle East and North Africa has made breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers more common and more deadly, researchers reported Monday in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. For each additional degree Celsius, cases and deaths of female cancers increased, researchers found. "As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises -- particularly for ovarian and breast cancers," lead investigator Wafa Abu El Kheir-Mataria said in a news release. She's a global health governance and health equity researcher at the American University in Cairo. Increased cancer in these countries could serve as a bellwether for what might happen in nations like the United States with currently cooler climes, researchers said. "Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial," Mataria added. For the study, researchers tracked cancers occurring in 17 Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian territories. These countries are already experiencing striking temperature increases tied to climate change, researchers noted. "Women are physiologically more vulnerable to climate-related health risks, particularly during pregnancy," senior researcher Sungsoo Chun said in a news release. He's associate chair of the Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology at the American University in Cairo. Researchers compared each nation's temperatures to its cancer statistics between 1998 and 2019, and found that rising heat was associated with more cancer cases and deaths. Cancers increased by 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 people for every additional degree Celsius, results show. Ovarian cancers cases rose the most, and breast cancers the least. Likewise, cancer deaths rose by 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000 for each degree of temperature rise, with the greatest increase in ovarian cancer and the smallest in cervical cancer. Six countries experienced the brunt of this increase in cases and deaths -- Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria. Although hotter temps are a probable risk factor, the heat might also increase other cancer risk factors like air pollution, researchers said. "Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways," Chun said. "It increases exposure to known carcinogens, disrupts healthcare delivery, and may even influence biological processes at the cellular level. Together, these mechanisms could elevate cancer risk over time." However, researchers noted that the study can't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between climate change and cancers. More research is needed to better understand how higher temperatures might influence cancer risk. In the meantime, researchers said public health officials should consider climate-related risks in their planning. "Strengthening cancer screening programs, building climate-resilient health systems, and reducing exposure to environmental carcinogens are key steps," Chun said. "Without addressing these underlying vulnerabilities, the cancer burden linked to climate change will continue to grow." More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about how climate change can impact human health. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
UPI
3 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Climate change could be fueling cancer deaths in women
Higher temperatures spurred by climate change could be increasing women's risk of cancer, a new study says. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News Higher temperatures spurred by climate change could be increasing women's risk of cancer, a new study says. Increasing heat in the Middle East and North Africa has made breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers more common and more deadly, researchers reported Monday in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. For each additional degree Celsius, cases and deaths of female cancers increased, researchers found. "As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises -- particularly for ovarian and breast cancers," lead investigator Wafa Abu El Kheir-Mataria said in a news release. She's a global health governance and health equity researcher at the American University in Cairo. Increased cancer in these countries could serve as a bellwether for what might happen in nations like the United States with currently cooler climes, researchers said. "Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial," Mataria added. For the study, researchers tracked cancers occurring in 17 Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian territories. These countries are already experiencing striking temperature increases tied to climate change, researchers noted. "Women are physiologically more vulnerable to climate-related health risks, particularly during pregnancy," senior researcher Sungsoo Chun said in a news release. He's associate chair of the Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology at the American University in Cairo. Researchers compared each nation's temperatures to its cancer statistics between 1998 and 2019, and found that rising heat was associated with more cancer cases and deaths. Cancers increased by 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 people for every additional degree Celsius, results show. Ovarian cancers cases rose the most, and breast cancers the least. Likewise, cancer deaths rose by 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000 for each degree of temperature rise, with the greatest increase in ovarian cancer and the smallest in cervical cancer. Six countries experienced the brunt of this increase in cases and deaths -- Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria. Although hotter temps are a probable risk factor, the heat might also increase other cancer risk factors like air pollution, researchers said. "Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways," Chun said. "It increases exposure to known carcinogens, disrupts healthcare delivery, and may even influence biological processes at the cellular level. Together, these mechanisms could elevate cancer risk over time." However, researchers noted that the study can't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between climate change and cancers. More research is needed to better understand how higher temperatures might influence cancer risk. In the meantime, researchers said public health officials should consider climate-related risks in their planning. "Strengthening cancer screening programs, building climate-resilient health systems, and reducing exposure to environmental carcinogens are key steps," Chun said. "Without addressing these underlying vulnerabilities, the cancer burden linked to climate change will continue to grow." More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about how climate change can impact human health. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Warmer climate could be making cancer among women more common, study says
Global warming could be making cancer in women more common and deadly, according to a study conducted in the Middle East and North Africa. The region is predicted to reach three to four degrees Celsius of warming about three decades earlier than the rest of the world. Summers in Middle Eastern nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, are characterised by extremely high temperatures - sometimes touching 50 degrees Celsius -- while North Africa sees temperatures in the range of 40-50 degrees Celsius. Study analysis Analysing prevalence and deaths due to cancer with temperatures between 1998 and 2019, researchers, including those from The American University in Cairo, Egypt, found a "small, but statistically significant" rise in prevalence and death rates of breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. For an increase in temperature by a degree Celsius, prevalence of the cancers was found to rise by 173-280 cases per one lakh people -- cases of ovarian cancer rose the most, and those of breast cancer the least. Death rates increased by 171-332 per one lakh people for each degree of temperature rise, with the biggest rise in ovarian cancer cases and the smallest in cervical cancer. Findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, suggest that an increased ambient temperature is probably a risk factor for breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. "As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises -- particularly for ovarian and breast cancers," first author Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria of The American University in Cairo, said. "Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial," Mataria said. Studies have shown that conditions driven by climate change - rising temperatures, compromised food and water security, and poor air quality - increase the risk of disease and death worldwide. In the context of cancer, people are potentially exposed more to risk factors like environmental toxins and are less likely to receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment -- and women are especially physiologically vulnerable, the researchers said. The health risks are "compounded by inequalities that limit access to healthcare. Marginalised women face a multiplied risk because they are more exposed to environmental hazards and less able to access early screening and treatment services," co-author Sungsoo Chun, of The American University in Cairo, said. The researchers added that the higher number of cancer cases observed in the study could also reflect improvements in cancer screening. However, an improved screening would be expected to result in fewer deaths, as early-stage cancer is easier to treat, they said. But both death rates and prevalence rose, suggesting that the driving factor is exposure to risk factors, the team said. "Our analysis indicates a significant correlation between prolonged exposure to high ambient temperatures and all four cancer types studied. Notably, the prevalence of breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers is markedly influenced by temperature increases," the authors wrote.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Study links global warming to rising cancers among women
New Delhi: Amid the surging number of cancer cases in women, a new study on Tuesday found its association with increasing global warming conditions. In the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, scientists found that global warming in the Middle East and North Africa is making breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer more common and more deadly. While the rise in rates is small it is statistically significant and suggests a notable increase in cancer risk and fatalities over time. 'As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises -- particularly for ovarian and breast cancers,' said Dr Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria of the American University in Cairo. 'Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial,' Mataria added. The study focussed on countries like Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Palestine -- all seriously vulnerable to climate change and are already seeing striking temperature rises. The team collected data on the prevalence and mortality of cancers -- breast, ovaries, cervix, and uterine -- and compared with changing temperatures between 1998 and 2019. The prevalence of the different cancers rose by 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 people for every additional degree Celsius: ovarian cancer cases rose the most and breast cancer cases the least. Mortality rose by 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000 people for each degree of temperature rise, with the greatest rise in ovarian cancer and the smallest in cervical cancer. 'Women are physiologically more vulnerable to climate-related health risks, particularly during pregnancy,' said co-author Dr Sungsoo Chun of the American University in Cairo. 'This is compounded by inequalities that limit access to healthcare. Marginalised women face a multiplied risk because they are more exposed to environmental hazards and less able to access early screening and treatment services,' Chun added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Warmer climate could be making cancer among women more common, study says
New Delhi: Global warming could be making cancer in women more common and deadly, according to a study conducted in the Middle East and North Africa. The region is predicted to reach three to four degrees Celsius of warming about three decades earlier than the rest of the world. Summers in Middle Eastern nations, such as the United Arab Emirates, are characterised by extremely high temperatures - sometimes touching 50 degrees Celsius -- while North Africa sees temperatures in the range of 40-50 degrees Celsius. Analysing prevalence and deaths due to cancer with temperatures between 1998 and 2019, researchers, including those from The American University in Cairo, Egypt, found a "small, but statistically significant" rise in prevalence and death rates of breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. For an increase in temperature by a degree Celsius, prevalence of the cancers was found to rise by 173-280 cases per one lakh people -- cases of ovarian cancer rose the most, and those of breast cancer the least. Death rates increased by 171-332 per one lakh people for each degree of temperature rise , with the biggest rise in ovarian cancer cases and the smallest in cervical cancer. Findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health , suggest that an increased ambient temperature is probably a risk factor for breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. "As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises -- particularly for ovarian and breast cancers," first author Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria of The American University in Cairo, said. "Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial," Mataria said. Studies have shown that conditions driven by climate change - rising temperatures, compromised food and water security, and poor air quality - increase the risk of disease and death worldwide. In the context of cancer, people are potentially exposed more to risk factors like environmental toxins and are less likely to receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment -- and women are especially physiologically vulnerable, the researchers said. The health risks are "compounded by inequalities that limit access to healthcare. Marginalised women face a multiplied risk because they are more exposed to environmental hazards and less able to access early screening and treatment services," co-author Sungsoo Chun, of The American University in Cairo, said. The researchers added that the higher number of cancer cases observed in the study could also reflect improvements in cancer screening. However, an improved screening would be expected to result in fewer deaths, as early-stage cancer is easier to treat, they said. But both death rates and prevalence rose, suggesting that the driving factor is exposure to risk factors, the team said. "Our analysis indicates a significant correlation between prolonged exposure to high ambient temperatures and all four cancer types studied. Notably, the prevalence of breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers is markedly influenced by temperature increases," the authors wrote.
