New research has highlighted three environmental factors—pesticides in food, toxins in drinking water, and air pollution—that may be contributing to the alarming rise in colon cancer among U.S. youth.
Colon cancer rates are predicted to rise, with diagnoses among people in their 20s and 30s expected to increase by 90% by 2030. While obesity and poor diet have long been cited as key contributors , this new study highlights how these environmental pollutants can also affect otherwise healthy and fit young adults.
The review, published in the journal Heliyon, analyzed more than 160 studies and found that these pollutants can disrupt the gut microbiome and cause harmful inflammation. This inflammation is believed to damage healthy cells and promote the growth of cancerous cells.
“There is a pressing need to improve environmental policies aimed at minimizing exposure to pollutants, safeguarding public health, and mitigating the burden of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC).” the study stated.
Researchers at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman noted that exposure to environmental pollutants (such as food toxins, antibiotics and chemicals) has increased steadily since the 1950s. This prolonged exposure disrupts the balance of gut bacteria, increasing harmful microbes and reducing the protectors.
One of the main culprits identified is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), an air pollutant so small that it bypasses the natural filters in the nose and mouth, causing inflammation of the colon. This inflammation weakens the immune system’s ability to fight cancer cells.
Data from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities shows that PM2.5 levels are highest in Southeastern and Appalachian states, including Ohio, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma. Notably, these states also report some of the highest rates of early-onset colorectal cancer in the country, with West Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisiana topping the list.
The findings come as Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek recently revealed his own battle with colorectal cancer. In a candid Instagram post and conversation with people magazineVan Der Beek shared that he initially ignored the changes in his bowel movements and blamed his coffee consumption.
After seeking medical help, he underwent a colonoscopy. Recalling his experience, Van Der Beek said: “It felt really good to come out of the anesthesia, because I had finally made it.” However, the mood changed when his doctor revealed the diagnosis: “Then the gastroenterologist said, in his most patient-friendly manner, that it was cancer. “I think I went into shock.”
The study’s findings, combined with personal stories like Van Der Beek’s, highlight the critical need for awareness, early detection, and stronger policies to address environmental factors contributing to the growing colon cancer epidemic among young Americans.