How Does Environmental and Occupational Exposure Contribute to Carcinogenesis in Genitourinary and Lung Cancers?

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Environmental and occupational exposures have been historically related with an increased risk of several diseases and, among these, different cancers. Up to date, neoplasms are among the leading causes of deaths worldwide, and a great knowledge of the related environmental and occupational risk factors is essential to prevent cancer occurrence. Lung and genitourinary cancers account for the highest rates of incidence and prevalence worldwide with a great social and economic impact; thus, we decided to focus on the common environmental and occupational exposures correlated to both lung and genitourinary cancers in order to find any contributions to a decrease in their occurrence or morbidity. ABSTRACT: Environmental and occupational exposures have been associated with an increased risk of different types of cancers, although the exact mechanisms of higher carcinogenesis risk are not always well understood. Lung cancer is the leading cause of global cancer mortality, and, also, genitourinary neoplasms are among the main causes of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. The purpose of this review is to describe the main environmental and occupational factors that increase the risk of developing lung and genitourinary cancers and to investigate carcinogenesis mechanisms that link these agents to cancer onset. Further objectives are to identify methods for the prevention or the early detection of carcinogenic agents and, therefore, to reduce the risk of developing these cancers or to detect them at earlier stages.