Doctors warn of three new factors driving young people's colon cancers as maps show who's at risk

New research has warned over three factors that could be driving increased cases of colon cancer in young people in the US.

Current health statistics indicate that colon cancer is on the up, with diagnoses among people in their 20s and 30s expected to rise 90 percent by 2030. Various contributing factors have been highlighted including bad diets and obesity, but new research has highlighted three other factors that could also impact healthy and fit young people too.

A review of more than 160 studies suggests that pesticides in food, toxins in drinking water and air pollution are also contributing to the rise in colon cancer cases. The research points out that these environmental factors can alter bacteria in the gut leading to inflammation, which is thought to kill off healthy cells and allow cancerous cells to grow and develop.

The research also suggests that the rise in early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) has been predicted for many years, as increased exposure to the three pollutants has continued since the 1950s. The study, which was publish in the journal Heliyon, states: "Consequently, there is a pressing need for enhanced environmental policies aimed at minimizing exposure to pollutants, safeguarding public health, and mitigating the burden of EOCRC."

The research team, from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, discovered that a lifetime of exposure to factors like foods, antibiotics, and chemicals can alter the gut microbiome leading to more dangerous bacteria than healthy bacteria. Looking specifically at the rising incidences of colorectal cancer in younger generations, the team looked at environmental exposures in people born after 1950.

The research found that fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is so small the nose and mouth can't filter it out, triggers inflammation in the colon, which has been shown to cause the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the immune system's ability to fight them off. The latest figures from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities show that PM2.5 is most prevalent in southeastern and Appalachian states like Ohio, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. These are also the states with some of the highest rates of early-onset colorectal cancer, according to figures from the National Cancer Institute. West Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisiana also had the highest rates of the disease.

The research also comes to light as Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek revealed last month he's been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The actor has spoken candidly about coming to terms with the diagnosis, with an emotional Instagram post where he detailed how his focus on his overall health has intensified since learning of his illness. In a conversation with People magazine, he also admitted that he initially dismissed changes in his bowel movements, attributing them to his coffee consumption, before finally seeking medical help.

After consulting with his doctor, he underwent a colonoscopy. Recalling his feelings post-procedure, he said: "I felt really good coming out of anaesthesia, that I'd finally done it." However, the mood quickly changed when his gastroenterologist gently broke the news that it was cancer as he continued: "Then the gastroenterologist said - in his most pleasant bedside manner - that it was cancer. I think I went into shock."

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.