FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE —Cancer deaths among women in the Middle East and North Africa have risen alongside temperatures over the past two decades, according to recent research.
The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, found a small but significant increase in breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer cases across 17 countries, correlating the trend with climate-related factors.
Researchers say ozone depletion raises UV exposure, while extreme heat leads to droughts and wildfires, worsening pollution levels linked to cancer risk.
For each 1°C temperature rise, cancer cases increased from 173 to 280 per 100,000 women, with ovarian cancer showing the sharpest climb.
Deaths rose from 171 to 332 per 100,000.
Scientists warn that climate change may be worsening health disparities in the region, where access to screening and treatment is often limited.
Health officials call for further research into environmental influences on cancer risk.