Air pollution's hidden role in rising lung cancer cases
Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer for humans, and increasingly, non-smokers are being affected. Scientists suggest a possible cause: air pollution may contribute to the disease.
Research published in "The Lancet Respiratory Medicine" reveals that air pollution is a key factor in the rise of lung cancer cases among non-smokers, according to the Lad Bible portal. The data shows that lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. Of 1.2 million patients, 1.1 million are expected to die.
It is estimated that approximately 43,000 cases of this disease are diagnosed annually in the United Kingdom alone. Traditionally, lung cancer was associated with smoking, but it is now increasingly affecting people who have never smoked.
Air pollution, especially in cities, is linked to the development of non-small cell lung cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma. It is estimated that in 2022, about 15 per cent of cases were caused by air pollution. The increase is particularly noticeable among women and East Asian populations, such as China.
As the percentage of smokers continues to fall in many countries around the world, the incidence of cancer in people who have never smoked is rising, according to scientists cited by Lad Bible.
Dr Freddie Bray emphasises the need for further research into the link between lung cancer and air pollution. "With declines in smoking prevalence – as seen in the UK and 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 places where air quality standards are not met.
The main symptoms of lung cancer include a cough that does not go away even after three weeks, persistent shortness of breath, regular chest infections, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue or weakness, and pain or discomfort while breathing or coughing.
