There is growing evidence that exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of developing throat and neck cancers. This is because air pollution contains a variety of harmful substances, including particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which can damage the cells in the throat and neck and make them more likely to become cancerous.
Several studies have found a link between air pollution and throat and neck cancers. For example, a meta-analysis of 20 studies published in 2019 found that exposure to PM2.5, a type of particulate matter that is less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, was associated with a 14% increased risk of laryngeal cancer. Another study, published in 2018, found that exposure to NOx was associated with a 20% increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.
