Impact of Environmental Carcinogens on Africa: A Quick Review of Health Indices in Africa between 2010 and 2024

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, with Africa experiencing a significant rise in cases over the past decade. This review explores the impact of environmental carcinogens on Africa's health indices from 2010 to 2024. Environmental carcinogens, comprising chemical, physical, and biological agents, contribute significantly to DNA damage, leading to cancer. These carcinogens can act directly, such as UV radiation, or indirectly, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which require bioactivation to become harmful. Carcinogens are classified based on their mode of action and their interplay between internal factors (e.g., inherited mutations) and external factors (e.g., chemical exposure) in cancer development. This review reveals a troubling increase in cancer cases across Africa, tied to widespread exposure to carcinogens. This paper calls for urgent public health measures and policies to reduce carcinogen exposure and mitigate cancer's growing impact in Africa.