[Cancers and environmental exposures: Between uncertainties and certainties]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Human longevity has increased due to improved living conditions.
• Environmental factors (air, water, soil quality, changes) are increasingly linked to cancer.
• Scientific understanding of environmental impacts on cancer remains incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of environmental factors in cancer occurrence.
• To highlight the significance of the exposome concept in health and environmental research.
• To inform public policy for risk reduction.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing new methodological tools for exposure characterization.
• Investigating the association between environmental agents and cancer (exposure-cancer approach).
• Analyzing health impacts related to environmental exposures.

Main Results:

• The concept of the exposome has emerged as a new scientific paradigm.
• The exposome integrates determinants of health from living environments.
• This approach aids in public policy decision-making for environmental health.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the exposome is crucial for addressing environmental health issues.
• Policies should aim to reduce environmental exposure to prevent cancer.
• Vulnerable populations require targeted measures to mitigate health risks from their environment.