What an Oncologist Wants You to Know About Environmental Cancer Risks - Washington Post
From air pollution to microplastics to natural radiation, here’s what to be aware of — and what can reduce exposure.
May 12, 2026
In a recent guest column for the Washington Post, Mikkael Sekeres, MD, chief of hematology and professor of medicine at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, lays out the latest thinking on environmental factors that actually contribute to cancer development, and what we can do to reduce our exposures.
Dr. Sekeres discusses environmental risk factors including radon, asbestos, microplastics, and air pollution.
“While we may not be able to avoid them completely, there’s plenty we can do to minimize our exposure,” Sekeres says.
The Susan Wojcicki Foundation is funding research to better understand these factors and what puts someone at risk for developing lung cancer, outside of traditional criteria.
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