Geospatial study links lung cancer hotspots in Bagmati to air pollution

Lung cancer is a growing public health crisis in Nepal, with incidence rates significantly higher in urban centers like the Kathmandu Valley compared to rural areas. A recent study highlights the critical need for geospatial analysis to understand the uneven distribution of risk factors, such as air pollution from urbanization, traffic, and industrial activities.

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The air we breathe is not the same everywhere.

Conventional health statistics often fail to capture these spatial inequalities, leaving the geographical dimensions of disease exposure invisible. While cancer is a leading cause of death globally, the rapid increase in lung cancer cases in developing countries like Nepal demands localized, municipal-level analysis. The World Health Organization reports 2.6 million lung cancer cases worldwide in 2024, making it the most common cancer, especially among men.

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cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2024, or nearly one in six deaths.

Nepal's age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) for lung cancer is exceptionally high at 80.9 per million, with a mortality rate (ASMR) of 54.8 per million. The Kathmandu Valley shows an ASIR of 18.1 for men and 10.4 for women, starkly contrasting with rural areas like Rukum, which report lower rates. This disparity underscores the importance of spatial health research in identifying and addressing localized environmental and behavioral factors contributing to the disease.

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The most common cancer is lung cancer, with 2.6 million cases.