Lung cancer diagnoses on the rise among never-smokers worldwide
Guardian1 day
Air Pollution Drives Surge in Non-Smoker Lung Cancer Cases
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Above: Port Talbot steelworks viewed from above on Jan. 22, 2020, in Port Talbot, UK. Image copyright: Matthew Horwood/Contributor/Getty Images News/Getty Images
The Facts
Lung cancer among never-smokers has become the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with adenocarcinoma being the predominant type, accounting for 53-70% of cases among those who have never smoked.
In 2022, approximately 200K cases of adenocarcinoma were linked to air pollution exposure, with East Asia, particularly China, bearing the largest burden of these cases, according to a study by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published in the Lancet.
Women represent about two-thirds of lung cancer cases among never-smokers, with female never-smokers being more than twice as likely as male never-smokers to develop the disease.
The Spin
Narrative A
The rise in cases of lung cancer in never-smokers demonstrates the urgent need for stricter air quality controls and pollution reduction measures. The clear link between air pollution and adenocarcinoma cases, particularly in East Asia, shows that environmental factors are becoming increasingly significant in cancer development. The success of future cancer prevention depends on addressing both tobacco use and air pollution simultaneously.
Narrative B
The focus on air pollution overlooks other significant risk factors such as radon exposure, genetic predisposition, and occupational hazards. Many cases may be attributed to unavoidable genetic factors or unidentified environmental triggers. The current emphasis on air pollution might divert resources from investigating other potential causes and developing targeted treatments for never-smokers.
