Cancer risk to unborn, says expert

MOST childhood cancers are probably caused by exposure to pollutants while babies are in the womb, a researcher claimed yesterday.

Professor George Knox said pre-natal exposure to industrial and environmental pollutants, most likely to have been inhaled by the mother during pregnancy, were probably to blame for the majority of cancers in children aged under 16.

He said the most dangerous pollutants were produced by industry or transport and these should be targeted in attempts to reduce childhood cancers.