Introduction
Cancer is a massive health issue that evokes concern in most people, with a significant number of people globally having lost loved ones to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), with more than 20,000 people having died from AML in 2020 (National Cancer Institute, 2022). Though its exact causes are not yet known, building awareness regarding the subject matter and promoting further research on DNA and AML will help shed light on the issue. Although there is currently no consensus regarding the exact nature of AML development, focusing on its three core factors, namely, smoking, benzene exposure, and ionizing radiation, will help improve AML prevention.
Causes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Smoking
Exploring the issue in greater detail will reveal that the actual causes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia have yet to be researched. Indeed, most studies on the subject matter tend to agree that the nature of the disease is quite complex and substantially underresearched (Alkhedaide, 2020). However, some studies insist that smoking is one of the most likely causes of AML (Alkhedaide, 2020). The rationale behind the specified statement is quite substantive since reputable sources point to the presence of carcinogenic substances in tobacco smoke (Alkhedaide, 2020).
Specifically, the fact that tobacco contains substances that are deemed to be conducive to the development of tumors implies that the specified substance should be regarded as one of the core contributors to the development of AML. According to the studies in question, the substances in question are absorbed into the bloodstream, affecting the cells within it and, thus, leading to the development of AML (Alkhedaide, 2020). Therefore, smoking should be regarded as one of the most likely factors in the emergence and further progression of AML. Arguably, the fact that tobacco contains carcinogenic elements does not immediately entail an increased probability of AML specifically; instead, it would be reasonable to suggest that the threat of malignant tumors and cancer, in general, increases with the development of the habit of smoking. However, since smoking has been proven to cause a rise in the risk of all types of cancer, the increase in the threat of AML is also evident in the specified scenario.
Additionally, changes to the biorhythms in the human body caused by smoking could potentially be considered as likely contributors to the development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Namely, research by Lagunas-Rangel et al. (2022) declares that the disruptions in circadian rhythm regulations and the associated mechanisms within the human body may cause the further deterioration of blood cells and the resulting emergence of AML (Lagunas-Rangel et al., 2022). Specifically, according to the study, “disruption of circadian rhythms and alterations in circadian clock genes have been reported in the four main types of leukemia (AML, ALL, CML, and CLL)” (Lagunas-Rangel et al., 2022, p. 4098).
The outlined effects of smoking need to be recognized as major contributors to the development and further progression of AML in patients. Thus, functional strategies can be introduced to resolve the current concern regarding the impact of smoking on Acute Myeloid Leukemia development.
Exposure to Benzene
However, apart from smoking, other factors and, more specifically, other substances can cause the emergence and rapid development of AML. Abutu et al.’s (2019) research reports that the presence of benzene in substances consumed by a patient is also likely to entail the threat of different types of cancers, including AML. Defined as a colorless fluid with a sweet odor, benzene is, in fact, one of the natural components of petroleum and a critical part of other chemicals (Abutu et al., 2019). Evaporating easily, benzene can be consumed by breathing air in the vicinity of benzene production, as well as while consuming some of the products that are rich in benzene (Abutu et al., 2019). Therefore, the extent of exposure to the subject matter is quite vast.
In turn, the effects of benzene on the human body are quite drastic, AML being one of the most drastic ones. Specifically, errors in chromosomal breakpoints leading to AML and other types of cancers are particularly notorious in patients who are exposed to benzene (Abutu et al., 2019). Thus, benzene should be considered one of the core risk factors in the emergence and development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in patients. Furthermore, studies have confirmed that continuous exposure to benzene leads to dramatic damage to bone marrow and blood cells. Namely, the study by Chehrehei et al. (2023) asserts that “long-term exposure to benzene causes leukemia” (p. 528).
The outlined effects are indicative of the evident need to conduct further studies regarding the effects of the substance in question on AML, as well as the identification of tools for preventing exposure to benzene and limiting the extent of its adverse impact on people’s health are strongly required. Namely, strategies for reducing benzene inhalation risk must be sought, as the case study by Abutu et al. (2019) states. Specifically, enhanced safety standards for workplace settings involving exposure to benzene, as well as replacements for benzene in products, must be considered a necessity.
Exposure to Radiation
Finally, the phenomenon of radiation as one of the essential causes of AML should be addressed. Being notorious for its effects on cells and their development, ionizing radiation is typically regarded as a significant risk factor causing the emergence of a variety of types of cancer (Busby, 2022). However, the risks of AML in people exposed to radiation are especially high, as some recent studies indicate (Busby, 2022).
For example, Busby (2022) asserts that exposure to ionizing radiation is likely to lead to gradual changes in the patient’s genes (Busby, 2022). In turn, the described alterations entail a shift in the development of blood cells, therefore increasing the risk of AML substantially (Busby, 2022). For this reason, radiation is believed to be a perilous risk factor for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
The process of ionizing radiation affecting blood cells in a manner that causes AML is quite complex yet undeniably evident. Namely, ionizing radiation is likely to cause alterations in myeloid cells, resulting in a drop in the number of white blood cells, which causes the further development of leukemia in patients (Gu et al., 2022). Furthermore, exposure to radiation contributes to the emergence of the so-called cancer cells, which entails the spreading of the disease and its subsequent irreversibility (Gu et al., 2022).
The emergence of cancerous cells and their further spread across the patient’s body, leading to the emergence of metastatic cancer, exacerbates the process, which is why the effects of radiation on the development of AML in the bone marrow must be seen as obvious and, therefore, prevented accordingly from taking place. Namely, safety precautions allowing the minimization of exposure to the sources of radiation must be deemed central to the further prevention and management of AML. Blocking the path to tissues for blood cells carrying oxygen, cancerous cells reinforce the development of cancer and prevent the introduction of appropriate treatment (Gu et al., 2022). Thus, the presence of radiation and its effect on a patient serve as the minimum prerequisite in the development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Conclusion
Though the exact causes of Acute Myeloid Leukemia are currently unknown, there are reasons to believe that specific changes in bone marrow DNA are likely to be the key cause of the specified health issue. This should inform further research and treatment development. Specifically, it is strongly recommended that additional studies be conducted on oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Thus, the nature of translocations as the core changes in the chromosomal structure that entail further cell mutation and the resulting development of AML will be examined more thoroughly. In turn, the discoveries to be made as a result of the specified studies will inform the choice of strategies for preventing and addressing instances of AML and meeting the needs of patients recovering from the disease.
References
Abutu, P., Amuda, O., Osinaya, O., & Babatunde, B. (2019). Regulatory activity of ethanol leaves extract of Moringa Oleifera on benzene-induced leukemia in Wister Rat using TNF-α analysis. American Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 7(1), 6-11. Web.
Alkhedaide, A. Q. (2020). Tobacco smoking causes secondary polycythemia and a mild leukocytosis among heavy smokers in Taif City in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 27(1), 407-411. Web.
Busby, C. (2022). Ionizing radiation and cancer: The failure of the risk model. Cancer Treatment and Research Communications, 100565.
Chehrehei, M., Mirzahosseini, S. A. H. S., Mansouri, N., Behzadi, M. H., & Rashidi, Y. (2023). Health Risk Assessment of Benzene Using AERMOD-IRIS Method in the Vicinity of the Gas Station. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 32(1), 527-533. Web.
Gu, Y., Wang, J., Wang, Y., Xu, C., Liu, Y., Du, L., Wang, Q., Ji, K., He, N., Zhang, M., Song, H., Sun, X., Wang, J.,, Kitahara, C. M., Berrington de Gonzalez, A., Niu, K., & Liu, Q. (2022). Low-dose ionizing radiation exposure and risk of leukemia: results from 1950–1995 Chinese medical X-ray workers’ cohort study and meta-analysis. Journal of the National Cancer Center, 2(2), 90-97. Web.
Lagunas-Rangel, F. A., Kudłak, B., Liu, W., Williams, M. J., & Schiöth, H. B. (2022). The potential interaction of environmental pollutants and circadian rhythm regulations that may cause leukemia. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 52(22), 4094-4112. Web.
National Cancer Institute. (2022). Cancer stat facts: Leukemia – Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). SEER.Cancer. Web.