Lung cancer rates among non-smokers are escalating globally, prompting concerns that air pollution may overshadow tobacco as a primary cause of mortality. A recent study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine reveals that adenocarcinoma has emerged as the predominant type of lung cancer, making up 53% to 70% of cases among non-smokers worldwide.
The findings indicate a troubling trend, particularly in eastern Asia and China, where the risk associated with air pollution is increasing. For never-smokers, lung cancer is now estimated to be the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with adenocarcinoma being most prevalent, especially among women and Asian populations.
Of the diagnosed adenocarcinoma cases, approximately 200,000 are linked to air pollution exposure. The disparity in diagnosis rates is also narrowing; in 2022, around 1.6 million men were registered compared to nearly 910,000 women.
This underscores the necessity for ongoing monitoring and research into the shifting risk factors for lung cancer, particularly in demographics where smoking is not the main contributor. Overall, lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer worldwide, highlighting an urgent need for awareness and action against emerging risk factors like air pollution.