Latest news with #WafaAbuelkheirMataria
Boston Globe
27-05-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Cancer rates rose for women in some countries where extreme heat is rising, study says
Ozone depletion can mean more exposure to UV radiation, researchers said. Higher temperatures can also lead to drought and wildfires, which can cause pollution. Advertisement 'This can increase exposures to a broad range of agents associated with cancer risk,' said Irina Stepanov, a public health professor and member of the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center. It was important, the authors said, to focus on women, many of whom may not receive proper screening or treatment in that part of the world. 'Women in this region face cultural, legal, and economic barriers to screening and treatment while also being disproportionately exposed to environmental carcinogens,' said coauthor Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria, a senior research fellow at the American University in Cairo. 'Our findings underscore the need to integrate climate change adaptation strategies into national cancer control plans with a gender-sensitive lens.' Examining rising temperatures and both cancer cases and cancer deaths between 1998 and 2019, the scientists found that cases increased from 173 to 280 per 100,000 people for every degree Celsius increase. Deaths rose from 171 to 332 per 100,000 for each degree. In both cases and mortality, ovarian cancer increased the most. Advertisement 'The most striking finding was the consistency of the correlation between temperature increases and cancer prevalence and mortality, not just regionally but also in several individual countries,' said Mataria. Cases and deaths both rose in Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Syria. There could be factors compounded by heat at play, the authors wrote - including pollution. When it's hotter, harmful pollution can be worse. 'For some pollutants such as ozone, and in some cases PM2.5, air pollution would be worse - all else being equal - with hotter temperatures,' said Julian Marshall, a professor focused on air quality engineering and public health at the University of Washington. When it's hotter, chemical reactions happen more quickly; it's why we store food in refrigerators to keep it fresh longer. 'Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways,' said the paper's coauthor, Sungsoo Chun, a professor at the American University in Cairo. '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.' In some of the countries examined, where the authors acknowledge healthcare for women is harder to access, it also may be hard to find accurate data. The researchers used a dataset from the University of Washington's Institute For Health Metrics and Evaluation that adjusts for known underreporting. They also incorporated GDP per capita to control for wealth disparities that could mean less access to health care. Advertisement 'Still, we acknowledge that other factors including differences in screening availability could influence prevalence data,' Mataria said. The authors noted that increased screening, however, typically means increased cases, but decreased deaths because catching more cases would lead to more treatment. That's why it's significant that both cases and deaths went up, they said. In places where it's getting hotter because of climate change, Stepanov said, the exposures to high risk chemicals may also be increasing. 'So, controlling for these factors would be very important in order to disentangle the specific effect of the temperature.' She added that despite the limitations, 'this study brings attention to an important issue of the potential links between rising temperatures and cancer risks.' The authors said they hope their initial findings will raise awareness and encourage nations to factor women into their climate and health policies. 'We hope this study prompts governments, researchers, and civil society to treat climate change not only as an environmental issue, but also as a women's health equity issue,' Mataria said.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Climate change could be driving up cancer rates in women, study finds
In the U.S., cancer rates are going up—especially for young and middle-aged women, whose cancer diagnoses have surpassed those of men. Women under 50 are now almost twice as likely to develop cancer than men of the same age, according to the American Cancer Society's latest cancer statistics report—and the gap has been widening since the early 2000s. Experts say there are likely multiple factors behind the growing cancer rates in young adults, including childhood bacteria exposure and ultra-processed foods. New research indicates another monumental culprit, especially for women: climate change. In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, researchers discovered that climate change—long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels—could be behind increasing cancer rates and deaths among women in the Middle East and North Africa. 'As temperatures rise, cancer mortality among women also rises—particularly for ovarian and breast cancers,' said lead author Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria of the American University in Cairo in the press release. 'Although the increases per degree of temperature rise are modest, their cumulative public health impact is substantial.' The study, which gathered data from 17 Middle Eastern and North African countries most vulnerable to warming temperatures—including Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—found that climate change is making certain cancers more common and more deadly among women. Researchers looked at the prevalence and mortality of breast, ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers, and compared the data with changing temperatures between 1998 and 2019. They found that the prevalence of the different cancers rose from 107 to 280 cases per 100,000 people for every additional degree Celsius, with ovarian cancer cases rising the most and breast cancer the least. Mortality more than doubled, from 160 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. When the researchers broke the overall data down by country, they found that cancer prevalence and deaths rose in only six countries: Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Syria, speculating this may be because of particularly extreme summer temperatures in those countries. They also observed that the rise was not uniform between countries—the prevalence of breast cancer rose by 560 cases per 100,000 people for each degree Celsius in Qatar, and 330 in Bahrain. The researchers point out that while the rise in rates is small, it is statistically significant enough to suggest a notable increase in cancer risk and mortality over time. As a result of climate change, Americans are witnessing hotter summers, milder winters, shifting rain and snowfall patterns, and more extreme weather events like record-high heat waves and devastating hurricanes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Moreover, climate change is known to cause and exacerbate health issues globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Polluted air, water, and soil from increased fossil fuel usage and high temperatures caused by global warming directly worsen health, while natural disasters exacerbated by climate change can lead to chronic stress, poor mental health, and decreased social support, while depleting health care infrastructure and access. Climate change also leaves people more exposed to environmental toxins and less likely to receive a quick diagnosis and treatment, the WHO points out, especially in developing countries disproportionately impacted by rising temperatures and infrastructural issues—leaving those populations more vulnerable to developing cancer. 'Temperature rise likely acts through multiple pathways,' said coauthor Sungsoo Chun of the American University in Cairo. 'It increases exposure to known carcinogens, disrupts health care delivery, and may even influence biological processes at the cellular level. Together, these mechanisms could elevate cancer risk over time.' As Chun pointed out, multiple factors could compound on one another to drive these rates. For example, increased heat could come in tandem with higher levels of carcinogenic air pollution. And women are left more physiologically vulnerable to climate-related health risks, according to Chun. 'This is compounded by inequalities that limit access to health care,' she explained in the press release. 'Marginalized women face a multiplied risk because they are more exposed to environmental hazards and less able to access early screening and treatment services.' Though some could argue that better cancer screening leads to higher rates of prevalence, the researchers counter by saying improvements in screening should result in fewer deaths, as early-stage cancer is easier to treat. But since both prevalence and death rates rose, the researchers believe climate-change-related risks are the driving factors, and call for considering climate-related risks in public health planning. 'This study cannot establish direct causality,' Mataria said. 'While we controlled for GDP per capita, other unmeasured factors could contribute. Nonetheless, the consistent associations observed across multiple countries and cancer types provide compelling grounds for further investigation.' For more on cancer: The number one diet change to lower your cancer risk, according to experts The truth about CT scans: The common health check could drive 103,000 cancer cases, research warns Can sunscreen give you cancer? What experts want you to know The best diet to lower your risk of prostate cancer, according to experts This story was originally featured on
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- 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
27-05-2025
- 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
27-05-2025
- 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.
