More Research Needed to Uncover Links Between Air Pollution and Lung Cancer, Says Expert
The World Health Organization’s cancer agency reports a growing trend of lung cancer diagnoses among non-smokers, with air pollution playing a significant role. Lung cancer in non-smokers is now the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A recent study found that nearly all lung cancer cases in non-smokers are adenocarcinoma, the most common subtype of the disease globally. In 2022, air pollution was linked to approximately 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma, with the highest burden found in East Asia, particularly China.
China and East Asia bear the brunt of lung cancer cases linked to air pollution, new research reveals.
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The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has revealed a concerning trend: the proportion of people diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked is increasing, with air pollution being a significant contributing factor. Lung cancer in non-smokers is now the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with approximately 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma linked to air pollution exposure in 2022.
Adenocarcinoma has become the dominant subtype of lung cancer globally, accounting for 45.6% of cases in men and 59.7% in women in 2022. Alarmingly, adenocarcinoma accounts for up to 70% of lung cancer cases in non-smokers.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that the largest burden of adenocarcinoma attributable to air pollution is in East Asia, particularly China. Dr. Freddie Bray, the study’s lead author, emphasizes the need for urgent monitoring of the changing risk of lung cancer and further studies to identify causal factors like air pollution.
The trends also show that while lung cancer incidence rates have decreased in men, they continue to rise in women. Experts warn that women should be vigilant about lung cancer signs, just like they are about breast cancer.
The study highlights the importance of addressing air pollution and tobacco use to prevent lung cancer. As Dr. Bray notes, “Changes in smoking patterns and exposure to air pollution are among the main determinants of the changing risk profile of lung cancer incidence by subtype.”
Reference Slashdot
