The role of environmental factors in the development of cervical cancer

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a multifactorial disease, which, according to prevalence, is the fourth most frequently clinically confirmed cancer in the world's female population. In addition, since the disease is mostly diagnosed at a late stage, the death rate caused by it is quite high. There are many risk factors for the development of the disease, among them, both the sexual lifestyle of a woman and the quality of her socio-economic life, genetic predisposition, infection with the human papilloma virus, anamnesis of multiple births and abortions, daily environmental factors, etc. are noteworthy. Although each of the above-mentioned factors has an important place among the risk factors for the development of the disease, environmental factors often play a decisive role in this process, especially when they are combined with viral infection, low quality of life or sexual behavior disorders (multiple sexual partner, starting sexual life at an early age, unprotected sex, etc.). In this regard, it is important to highlight the role of nitrosamines, tetrachlorethylene, chemical agents used in the metal and dry cleaning industry, fungi or bacteria used in the food industry, and tobacco smoking. which have different mechanisms and frequencies of cervical cancer development, although the level of awareness of the public and especially the female population about them is often, unfortunately, quite low.