Rise in lung cancer cases among non-smokers

Lung cancer cases among non-smokers are rising, with air pollution potentially playing a key role, according to a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine on World Cancer Day.

The study found that adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer that originates in mucus-producing glands, accounted for 53-70% of lung cancer cases in non-smokers worldwide in 2022. Unlike other lung cancer types, adenocarcinoma is only weakly linked to cigarette smoking. As smoking rates decline globally, lung cancer among non-smokers is becoming more prevalent.

Adenocarcinoma has also emerged as the most common lung cancer type across all sexes. In 2022, an estimated 908,000 new lung cancer cases were recorded in women, with 59.7% being adenocarcinoma. Additionally, 80,378 of these cases in women were linked to particulate matter (PM) pollution.

The study was led by experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Researchers analyzed data from the Global Cancer Observatory, 2022, categorizing lung cancer into four subtypes: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small- and large-cell carcinoma.

As of 2019, almost the entire global population lives in areas where air quality falls below WHO standards.

Lead researcher Freddie Bray, head of IARC’s cancer surveillance branch, emphasized that these findings provide valuable insights for cancer prevention specialists and policymakers aiming to implement effective tobacco and air pollution control strategies.

The study also highlights that lung cancer in never-smokers is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It occurs almost exclusively as adenocarcinoma, with the highest incidence among women and Asian populations.

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