Study Reveals Link Between Secondhand Smoke and Cervical Cancer
New research from the Institute for the Study, Prevention, and Oncological Network of Florence and the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS of Milan has found a significant association between exposure to secondhand smoke and an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. The study, published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, analyzed 21 previous studies on the topic and concluded that exposure to passive smoke, especially in the home environment, raises the risk of cervical cancer by approximately 50%.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths reported in 2020 alone. While the carcinogenic effects of smoking on cervical cancer have been well-established, this study sheds light on the indirect effects of secondhand smoke exposure, which have been relatively understudied. The research team found that individuals exposed to secondhand smoke had a 52% higher risk of developing pretumor lesions, known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and a 42% higher risk of invasive forms of cancer.
The study also highlighted the importance of the home environment, including exposure from partners, in the development of cervical cancer related to secondhand smoke. The impact of past exposure, such as parental or childhood exposure, was found to have a lower impact on tumor development. The researchers emphasize that these findings should raise awareness among women and the general population about the risks associated with secondhand smoke, particularly in private contexts.
Italy, with just under 10 million smokers, has a smoking population of approximately one-fifth of its total population. The prevalence of smoking is higher among individuals aged 25-44, with one in four people in this age range being smokers. Additionally, smoking rates are higher among men (22.9%) compared to women (15.3%).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco smoke is responsible for approximately eight million deaths per year and is considered the greatest threat to global health. Approximately 70% of the world‘s one billion smokers start smoking before the age of 18, and 94% begin before the age of 25. Inhaling tobacco and its components is a major risk factor for various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory conditions. In fact, tobacco-related diseases cause more deaths than alcohol, drugs, traffic accidents, homicides, and suicides combined.
The Ministry of Health stresses that tobacco smoke is a known or probable cause of at least 27 diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and heart disease. This new study adds to the growing body of evidence linking secondhand smoke to the development of cervical cancer, further emphasizing the importance of reducing exposure to tobacco smoke for overall public health.