Mumbai’s rising pollution levels are estimated to account for 57 per cent of diagnosed lung cancer cases, the Maharashtra Assembly was informed on Tuesday, months after the Centre told Parliament that there was no conclusive data establishing a direct correlation between higher air quality index (AQI) levels and lung diseases. "A cancer screening campaign conducted by the public health department detected 1,677 patients across Maharashtra. The findings indicated that rising pollution levels in Mumbai are contributing significantly to lung cancer, which accounts for 57 per cent of diagnosed cases,” Maharashtra health minister Prakash Abitkar said, as reported by PTI. ADVERTISEMENT"A substantial number of patients with oral, cervical and breast cancers were also detected, with breast cancer cases among women showing an alarming trend," Abitkar said. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Dindoshi, Sunil Prabhu, had raised through a calling attention motion the issue of increasing cancer cases.

Source: The Telegraph February 24, 2026 16:55 UTC