Environmental Pollution and Cancer: Immunotoxic Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Insights

Environmental pollution remains a critical global health concern, exerting profound effects on human well-being through its role in cancer development and immune dysfunction. Exposure to air pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, plasticizers, and other contaminants has been linked to the induction of oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and genotoxicity, ultimately promoting carcinogenesis. Beyond mutagenic effects, pollutants disrupt immune homeostasis by impairing innate and adaptive immune responses, suppressing antitumor immunity, and enhancing susceptibility to tumor progression. Immunotoxic pathways involve dysregulation of cytokine networks, altered T-cell signaling, macrophage polarization, and impaired natural killer (NK) cell function. This review synthesizes current evidence on the mechanistic links between environmental pollution, immunotoxicity, and cancer, while also highlighting epidemiological data underscoring global disease burdens. Furthermore, we explore emerging therapeutic insights, including antioxidant interventions, immunomodulatory agents, nanoparticle-based detoxification systems, and policy-driven preventive measures aimed at mitigating pollutant exposure. By integrating mechanistic, clinical, and therapeutic perspectives, this article underscores the urgent need for multidisciplinary approaches to address pollution-driven immunotoxicity and cancer risk.