Smog May Increase Chances of Types of Childhood Leukemia

First Posted: Sep 18, 2015 12:47 PM EDT

Air pollution can cause all sorts of problems for health. Now, though, scientists have studied the risk of acute leukemia in children living close to heavily used roads. This study, in particular, could show the true dangers of living in traffic-laden areas.

Cancer impacts about 1,700 children under 15 years of age every year in France, which has a population of a little over 11 million children. That's why the researchers examined these instances a bit more closely.

In this latest study, the researchers considered 2,760 cases of leukemia diagnosed n children under 15 years of age in metropolitan France during the years from 2002 to 2007.

So what did they find? It turns out that the incidence of new cases of myeloblastic leukemia was 30 percent higher in children in the population whose residence was located within 150 m of heavily used roads. In contrast, this association was not seen for the more common, lymphoblastic type of leukemia.

The findings reveal that there may be some association between air pollution and cancer. This is particularly important to note when considering air pollution levels in high-population areas.

The findings are published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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Tagsair pollution, Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lung, Fine Particulate Matter, Leukemia, Childhood Leukemia, Health