Pollution, Plastics Associated to Increasing Adolescent Cancer

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Islamabad: Leading cancer expert has cautioned of a sudden increase in colorectal, liver, and oral cancer rates in young people, citing plastic exposure, food contamination, and environmental pollution among other causes.

Speaking to a local news channel, oncologist Dr. Muhammad Ali Memon said these cancers have risen by seventy-nine percent in the last two decades, underlining an immediate need for public education and prevention.

Early screening and preventive actions for the younger population, stressed by Dr. Muhammad Ali Memon, defined this increase as a major public health issue. Major causes he cited include chemical preservatives applied in processed foods, consumption of frozen and contaminated goods, plastic penetration into soil and the food chain.

He remarked that these elements disrupt bodily processes and reproductive health, therefore raising cancer risks at a younger age. Dr Muhammad Ali Memon also emphasised how declining environmental conditions affect health, citing dwindling green cover and quick urbanization, especially in cities like Karachi and Lahore.

Public health is being seriously impacted by inadequate air quality, absence of plantation, soil pollution, and plastic contamination of the food chain. Together with genetic weaknesses, these environmental influences are forming a deadly mix that is driving up cancer rates among the younger generation.

Citing a recent study, Dr. Muhammad Ali Memon noted that with most incidents happening in individuals between twenty and forty years of age, cancer-related deaths have risen by twentyeight percent.

Early diagnosis and prompt care can greatly improve results and save lives even in light of this concerning trend. He said quick action was needed to enhance environmental circumstances, raise awareness, and encourage routine screening to solve this escalating health epidemic.

Regular exercise combined with a balanced diet high in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits can help to boost the body’s own defences against cancer. Dr. Muhammad Ali Memon also urged abstaining from smoking and restricting alcohol intake as these are established cancer risk factors of many kinds.