New Study Links Pesticides, Toxins, and Air Pollution to Alarming Rise in Colon Cancer Among Young Adults

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 young people in the U.S.

Colon cancer rates are projected to surge, with diagnoses among individuals in their 20s and 30s expected to increase by 90% by 2030. While obesity and poor diets have long been cited as key contributors, this new study underscores how these environmental pollutants may also impact 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, leading to harmful inflammation. This inflammation is thought to damage healthy cells and promote the growth of cancerous ones.

“There is a pressing need for enhanced 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 from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman noted that exposure to environmental pollutants—such as food toxins, antibiotics, and chemicals—has steadily increased since the 1950s. This prolonged exposure alters the balance of gut bacteria, increasing harmful microbes while reducing protective ones.

One major culprit identified is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), an air pollutant so small that it bypasses the nose and mouth’s natural filters, triggering colon inflammation. This inflammation weakens the immune system’s ability to fight off cancerous cells.

Data from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities shows 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 nation’s highest early-onset colorectal cancer rates, 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 magazine, Van Der Beek shared that he initially ignored changes in his bowel movements, blaming his coffee consumption.

After seeking medical help, he underwent a colonoscopy. Recalling his experience, Van Der Beek said, “I felt really good coming out of anesthesia, that I’d finally done it.” However, the mood shifted when his doctor revealed the diagnosis: “Then the gastroenterologist said—in his most pleasant bedside 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 screening, and stronger policies to address environmental factors contributing to the growing colon cancer epidemic among young Americans.