Rising Temperatures Linked to Increased Cancer Cases and Deaths Among Women in MENA

Rising Temperatures Linked to Increased Cancer Cases and Deaths Among Women in MENA
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Researchers at the American University in Cairo have found a significant correlation between rising temperatures and increased cases and deaths from breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers among women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Arab News reported. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, analyzed data from 17 MENA countries between 1998 and 2019, revealing that higher ambient temperatures coincide with higher cancer rates and mortality.

The link was particularly strong in six countries: Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, and Jordan. Notably, the Gulf states, despite having robust healthcare systems, showed above-average increases in cancer deaths related to climate stress. Researchers suggest that extreme heat may amplify environmental exposures like air pollution and physiological stress, which traditional cancer control strategies may not fully address.

Dr. Wafa Abu El-Kheir-Mataria, senior researcher at the American University in Cairo, emphasized the urgent need to integrate climate risks into cancer control policies. She called for more detailed, country-specific research and stronger collaboration between health, environmental, and planning sectors to build climate-resilient healthcare systems.

With the MENA region expected to experience a 4°C temperature rise by 2050, the study warns of amplified health risks for women. While the researchers caution against direct predictions, they stress the importance of urgent action and further study to mitigate climate-related cancer risks.