Scientists at the University of Arizona came to the conclusion that human activities contribute to the spread of cancer not only among the population, but also among animals living in the natural environment. The article of experts is published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. This is reported 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 facilities, the accumulation of plastic and the use of pesticides. In addition, health problems provoke light pollution, which destroys circadian rhythms and causes hormonal changes, which can increase the risk of cancer.
According to the authors, Homo sapiens can be defined as an oncogenic species, although it is not yet known how much the development of modern civilization causes the development and spread of cancer tumors in wild species.
Cancer occurs in all species that have been studied by humans, including naked zemlepopov, who were previously considered immune to malfunctions in the 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 activities.
