According to a study published in Frontiers in Public Health, women in the Middle East and North Africa are more likely to develop breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer as a result of rising temperatures. From 1998 to 2019, researchers gathered data from 17 nations—including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Jordan—where the climate issue is worsening. The frequency of cancer rose by 173 to 280 cases per 100,000 persons for every degree Celsius added. Breast cancer had the lowest rise, and ovarian cancer the sharpest. Additionally, mortality rates increased, rising from 171 to 332 deaths per 100,000, with ovarian cancer once again exhibiting the most significant rise. Global warming is linked to rising rates of cancer in women, especially in regions already under environmental stress.

Cumulative Impact of Warming on Women’s Health

Researchers stressed the long-term relevance of the yearly gains despite their seeming modesty. According to the primary author from the American University in Cairo, even small temperature increases are associated with increased mortality, especially from ovarian and breast malignancies. The expert emphasized that as global temperatures continue to climb, public health will have a significant cumulative effect.

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Vulnerability Amplified by Gender and Inequality

Women are biologically more vulnerable to climate-related health risks, particularly during pregnancy, according to co-author Dr. Sungsoo Chun. He emphasized that systemic inequities worsen these dangers. Due to limited access to preventive care, including early screening and treatment, and increased exposure to environmental risks, marginalized women are at higher risk. Global warming is linked to rising rates of cancer in women, which intensifies these risks in already climate-vulnerable populations. Together, these elements imply that the climate crisis exacerbates health inequalities among women in climate-vulnerable areas, in addition to increasing biological risk.

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