IARC Study Reveals Smokeless Tobacco and Areca Nut Responsible for One in Three Oral Cancer Cases Globally

New Delhi: A new study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found that smokeless tobacco and areca nut use account for one in three cases of oral cancer worldwide.

The findings, published in The Lancet Oncology, estimate that over 120,000 oral cancer cases in 2022 were caused by these substances, with most cases concentrated in South-Central Asia and low- to middle-income countries.

Oral Cancer and Its Global Burden

The study reports that 88% of oral cancer cases linked to smokeless tobacco and areca nut use occurred in South-Central Asia, with India alone recording 83,400 such cases. More than 96% of cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

Products Under Scrutiny: Smokeless Tobacco and Areca Nut

The research indicates a higher risk from areca nut, with or without tobacco, compared to smokeless tobacco alone. Around 300 million people use smokeless tobacco, and 600 million people use areca nut globally. The highest rates of use are in South-Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Melanesia.

Lead author Dr Harriet Rumgay from IARC stated that the findings underscore the health burden posed by smokeless tobacco and areca nut, and the importance of reducing their consumption.

Impact on High-Risk Countries

The study highlights countries with high usage rates of these products, particularly Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea. In Bangladesh, betel quid with tobacco caused 67% of oral cancer cases among women and 54% among men.

In India, areca nut and betel quid with tobacco were the leading causes of oral cancer in women, while khaini and gutka topped the list for men. Pakistan reported naswar as a leading cause, particularly in men, while Papua New Guinea had the highest prevalence of areca nut use, responsible for 84% of oral cancer cases in the country.

Call for Global Action

The study’s authors call for prioritizing smokeless tobacco control and integrating areca nut prevention into cancer control programs. Despite progress in regulating tobacco smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco and areca nut remains largely unregulated.

Gender-Specific Health Concerns

The study found that 77% of oral cancer cases attributed to smokeless tobacco and areca nut use occurred in men. However, in regions like Southern Africa and Southeast Asia, smokeless tobacco and areca nut use among women is higher than among men, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive public health policies.

The findings highlight the need for stronger global efforts to prevent oral cancer by addressing smokeless tobacco and areca nut use.