Scientists at Arizona State University have come to the conclusion that human activity contributes to the spread of cancer not only among the population, but also among animals living in the natural environment. The article of experts was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. This was announced in a press release on Phys.org.
Researchers call factors contributing to the development of malignant tumors such as chemical pollution of the atmosphere and hydrosphere, the release of radiation from nuclear installations, the accumulation of plastic and the use of pesticides. In addition, light pollution, which disrupts circadian rhythms and causes hormonal changes, can also increase your risk of cancer.
According to the authors, Homo sapiens can be defined as an oncogenic species, although it is not yet known how strongly the development of modern civilization determines the development and spread of cancerous tumors in wild species.
Cancer occurs in all species that have been studied by humans, including naked mole rats, which were previously thought to be immune to disruptions in cell division leading to neoplasms. At the same time, there is no data on morbidity in various animal populations, which makes it difficult to assess the impact of anthropogenic activity.