Cancer Research UK reports that exposure to asbestos, which is known to cause a form of cancer called mesothelioma, has also been shown to cause some cancers of the ovary and larynx (voice box) as well, according to recent statements by scientists investigating the issue.
Writing in a review in the Lancet Oncology this month, an international team of World Health Organisation experts claim that there is now “sufficient evidence” that asbestos can also cause cancer of the ovary and the larynx. Basing their conclusion on a new ‘meta-analysis’ of previously published studies, the scientists revealed that people who have been exposed to asbestos are 1.4 times more likely to develop cancer of the larynx than those who have never been exposed to the material, while high levels of exposure are associated with a twofold increased risk of the disease.
The scientists noted that “all types of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans” and say that there is also some evidence to suggest that the substance may increase a person’s risk of cancers of the bowel, stomach and throat. Dr Alison Ross, Cancer Research UK’s senior science information officer, said: “We already know asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma and this adds two more cancer types to the list.
Comments on this entry are closed.