Climate Change Linked To Rising Cancer Incidence Among Women, Study Finds

Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue — it’s becoming a serious threat to women’s health worldwide. A new study has revealed that climate change is driving a rise in cancer cases particularly ovarian and breast cancers and deaths among women in vulnerable regions particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which are witnessing rising global temperatures.

The study published in Frontiers in Public Health points to a statistically significant rise in both the incidence and mortality of breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers correlated with increasing temperatures.

While the rise in cases per degree of temperature increase may appear modest, experts warn that the cumulative effect poses a substantial threat to public health over time.

“These findings underscore a disturbing link between environmental change and women's health,” said Dr. Wafa Abuelkheir Mataria of the American University in Cairo, lead author of the study. “Even small increases in temperature are associated with higher cancer mortality—particularly for ovarian and breast cancers.”

Focusing on 17 climate-vulnerable countries, including Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, the study examined cancer prevalence and mortality data from 1998 to 2019 alongside regional temperature trends. The results highlight a significant rise in cancer cases and deaths for each additional degree Celsius of temperature increase, with ovarian cancer showing the highest surge.

Co-author Dr. Sungsoo Chun emphasized the heightened vulnerability of women in these regions due to both physiological and social factors. “Climate-related health risks are magnified for women, especially those facing systemic barriers to healthcare,” he said. “Without urgent intervention, this trend could lead to a deepening of existing health inequities.”

The study adds to a growing body of evidence that climate change is not only an environmental crisis but also a critical and emerging global health emergency.

Though the authors have not focused on India, oncologists here feel that the rise in the deadly disease here may be because of the same environmental reason.

A similar study should be conducted here to find the link, they said. According to a recent study in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal, the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 estimates that India ranks third worldwide in terms of cancer incidence, after China and the United States.