Dirty air a silent killer

AIR pollution has been linked to kidney, bladder and bowel cancer in a study that suggests dirty air is implicated in more than lung disease.

Microscopic particles from car exhausts can raise the risk of death from kidney or bladder cancer by almost 15 per cent, the study of more than 600,000 people showed. And those living near busy roads, who are exposed to nitrogen oxide, could see their risk of death from bowel cancer rise by 6 per cent.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives and led by the Barcelona Institute of Global Health.