Lung Cancer Cases Among Non-Smokers on the Rise Due to Air Pollution, WHO Reports

Global Trend

The World Health Organization (WHO) has disclosed that the percentage of lung cancer diagnoses in individuals who have never smoked is increasing. Recent studies point to air pollution as a significant contributing factor to the surge in lung cancer cases worldwide.

Impact of Air Pollution

A study published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal revealed that in 2022, approximately 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer, were associated with air pollution. The highest burden of adenocarcinoma linked to air pollution was observed in East Asia, particularly in China.

Shifting Patterns

Despite a decline in smoking rates, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Among the various subtypes of lung cancer, adenocarcinoma has emerged as the most prevalent subtype in both men and women, now representing up to 70% of cases among non-smokers.

Gender Disparities

While lung cancer rates in men have decreased over the past four decades, there has been a rise in cases among women. In 2022, 900,000 women were diagnosed with lung cancer, narrowing the gap between male and female diagnoses. Lung cancer now accounts for around 34,800 deaths annually in the UK alone.