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European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition – outdoor and indoor air pollution and cancer

Hoek, Gerard ; van Tongeren, Martie ; Röösli, Martin ; Jochems, Sylvia H.J. ; Vilahur, Nadia ; Albin, Maria LU ; Baldi, Isabelle ; Crowley, Quentin ; Fervers, Béatrice and Greinert, Rüdiger , et al. (2026) In Molecular Oncology 20(1). p.81-95
Abstract

Most European Union (EU) residents live in areas where outdoor air pollution levels exceed the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines for fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. Outdoor air pollution is classified as carcinogenic to humans, and both outdoor and indoor air contain established human carcinogens, including diesel exhaust particulates, benzo(a)pyrene [B(A)P] and benzene. The European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition (ECAC5), incorporates recommendations for individuals and policymakers aimed at reducing the cancer burden from both outdoor and indoor air pollution. A critical step is aligning EU air quality limit values with the more stringent 2021 WHO guidelines. This should be complemented by integrated... (More)

Most European Union (EU) residents live in areas where outdoor air pollution levels exceed the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines for fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. Outdoor air pollution is classified as carcinogenic to humans, and both outdoor and indoor air contain established human carcinogens, including diesel exhaust particulates, benzo(a)pyrene [B(A)P] and benzene. The European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition (ECAC5), incorporates recommendations for individuals and policymakers aimed at reducing the cancer burden from both outdoor and indoor air pollution. A critical step is aligning EU air quality limit values with the more stringent 2021 WHO guidelines. This should be complemented by integrated policy measures, including stricter regulation of combustion emissions, promotion of active and environmentally friendly transportation, incentives for cleaner energy sources for heating and cooking, and harmonization with broader EU climate initiatives. At the individual level, emissions and exposure may be reduced by limiting car use, avoiding second-hand smoke, and refraining from burning wood or coal indoors or outdoors. Further exposure reduction may be achieved by limiting walking or cycling along heavily trafficked routes.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
air pollution, cancer prevention, combustion, european code against cancer, indoor, outdoor
in
Molecular Oncology
volume
20
issue
1
pages
15 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105027705330
  • pmid:41542811
ISSN
1574-7891
DOI
10.1002/1878-0261.70184
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
94959372-870c-4f96-8680-2b3cd96b01ea
date added to LUP
2026-02-26 11:03:05
date last changed
2026-03-12 12:27:58
@article{94959372-870c-4f96-8680-2b3cd96b01ea,
  abstract     = {{<p>Most European Union (EU) residents live in areas where outdoor air pollution levels exceed the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines for fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. Outdoor air pollution is classified as carcinogenic to humans, and both outdoor and indoor air contain established human carcinogens, including diesel exhaust particulates, benzo(a)pyrene [B(A)P] and benzene. The European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition (ECAC5), incorporates recommendations for individuals and policymakers aimed at reducing the cancer burden from both outdoor and indoor air pollution. A critical step is aligning EU air quality limit values with the more stringent 2021 WHO guidelines. This should be complemented by integrated policy measures, including stricter regulation of combustion emissions, promotion of active and environmentally friendly transportation, incentives for cleaner energy sources for heating and cooking, and harmonization with broader EU climate initiatives. At the individual level, emissions and exposure may be reduced by limiting car use, avoiding second-hand smoke, and refraining from burning wood or coal indoors or outdoors. Further exposure reduction may be achieved by limiting walking or cycling along heavily trafficked routes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hoek, Gerard and van Tongeren, Martie and Röösli, Martin and Jochems, Sylvia H.J. and Vilahur, Nadia and Albin, Maria and Baldi, Isabelle and Crowley, Quentin and Fervers, Béatrice and Greinert, Rüdiger and Consonni, Dario and Feliu, Ariadna and Zeeb, Hajo and Schüz, Joachim and D'Souza, Erica and Ritchie, David and Espina, Carolina and Kromhout, Hans}},
  issn         = {{1574-7891}},
  keywords     = {{air pollution; cancer prevention; combustion; european code against cancer; indoor; outdoor}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{81--95}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Molecular Oncology}},
  title        = {{European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition – outdoor and indoor air pollution and cancer}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.70184}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/1878-0261.70184}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}