Environmental Burden of Cancer

Cancer Care Ontario and PHO have partnered to produce a report on the impact of environmental carcinogens, Environmental Burden of Cancer in Ontario. 

The report estimates how many new cancer cases each year in Ontario are the result of exposure to 23 carcinogens in our environment. It is the first time that Ontario’s annual environmental burden of cancer has been calculated. 

Key findings in the report include:

Over 90 per cent of all environmental cancer cases result from exposure to three main carcinogens 

  • 2,090 to 2,990 new cancer cases from UV radiation in sunlight
  • 1,080 to 1,550  new cancer cases from radon
  • 290 to 900 new cancer cases  from fine particles (PM2.5) in air pollution
Read the report

Supporting Resources

Updated 5 Aug 2016