Air pollution linked to rise in lung cancer among non‑smokers
Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer for humans. Increasingly, non-smokers are being diagnosed with the disease. Scientists suggest a possible cause: air pollution may be contributing to the illness.
Research published in "The Lancet Respiratory Medicine" highlights that air pollution is a significant factor in the rise of lung cancer cases among non-smokers, according to the Lad Bible. The data indicates that lung cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide. Of the 1.2 million patients, 1.1 million are expected to die.
Traditionally, lung cancer was associated with smoking, but it is now increasingly affecting people who have never smoked.
Air pollution, especially in urban areas, is linked to the development of non-small cell lung cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma. It is estimated that in 2022, about 15 per cent of these cases were due to air pollution. The increase is notably significant among women and East Asian populations, such as in China.
As the percentage of smokers continues to decline in many countries globally, the incidence of cancer in people who have never smoked is rising, as reported by scientists cited by Lad Bible.
Dr. Freddie Bray stresses the need for further research into the connection between lung cancer and air pollution. "With declines in smoking prevalence—as seen in the UK and the US—the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed among those who have never smoked tends to increase," he said in an interview with The Guardian. The WHO estimates that 99 percent of the world's population lives in areas where air quality standards are not met.
The primary symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, persistent shortness of breath, frequent chest infections, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, ongoing fatigue or weakness, and pain or discomfort while breathing or coughing.
