Rising levels of cancers in men could be linked to chemical pollution, that’s according to the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL).
Across Europe, cases of prostate and testicular cancers appear to be on the rise.
In the last comparable data from the European Cancer Information System, Ireland had the sixth highest rate of prostate cancer in Europe.
The data is difficult to interpret because cancer rates are also linked to detection. But HEAL says that the increase in cases of men’s cancers coincides with human exposure to dangerous chemicals including pesticides and microplastics with “widespread contamination.”
“In men, the testes, prostate, and hormone system are uniquely sensitive to chemical exposures, especially during early development and the reproductive years”, said Dr Rossella Cannarella who authored the report.
“Across Europe, the evidence is consistent and alarming: prostate and testicular cancers are rising, sperm quality has fallen by more than half in the past decades, and hormonal disorders are becoming more common. Many of these trends correlate with exposure to harmful chemicals that are still too prevalent and increasing in our daily environment.”
Incidence of prostate cancer in Europe in 2022
Source: European Cancer Information System (age-standardised rate)
Lithuania 265.3 per 100,000
Sweden 231.6 per 100,000
Latvia 225.1 per 100,000
Estonia 218.7 per 100,000
Ireland 209.2 per 100,000
HEAL estimates that the heath cost of men’s cancers now exceeds €15 billion per year.
The health and environmental NGO says there is “mounting evidence” linking these types of cancers and chemical pollution.
“The alarming rise in prostate and testicular cancer among men across Europe is a warning we cannot ignore. The scientific evidence is clear — harmful chemicals like PFAS pose significant risk for cancer and put lives at risk”, says Dr Wolfgang Fecke, Executive Director of the Association of European Cancer Leagues.
“To prevent cancer and protect the health of future generations, we need decisive policy action to fully implement Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and cut exposure.”
HEAL is urging the EU to take stronger action to reduce the use of cancer-causing chemicals.
“While lifestyle and genetics shape health, the growing burden from chemical pollution demands urgent, science-based policy action. Especially as parental chemical exposure is increasingly associated with adverse health effects in future generations”, the NGO says.
The European Commission has a long-overdue promise to revise REACH directive which oversees what chemicals are allowed and under what circumstances.
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
But the European Commission has now signalled that it plans to “simply” the existing law to help the chemical industry.
Manufacturers and environmentalists are waiting to see what that means in practice.
“With the upcoming REACH revision, EU policymakers have a unique opportunity to prevent disease, boost reproductive health and ensure the wellbeing of future generations”, says HEAL’s Executive Director, Génon K. Jensen.
“The male reproductive system is particularly vulnerable to chemical exposures. The growing evidence on how hazardous chemicals contribute to rising cancer rates and infertility is truly worrying.”