New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) – A growing number of lung cancer cases are being reported among individuals who have never smoked, with air pollution emerging as a potential contributing factor, according to a new study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal on World Cancer Day.
Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted an analysis using data from the Global Cancer Observatory 2022 dataset. Their study estimated national-level lung cancer cases across four subtypes—adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.
The study found that adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer that originates in mucus and digestive fluid-producing glands, has become the most prevalent subtype in both men and women worldwide. Notably, adenocarcinoma accounted for 53-70% of lung cancer cases in 2022 among non-smokers globally.
Compared to other lung cancer subtypes, the risk of developing adenocarcinoma is considered weakly associated with cigarette smoking, according to the authors.
"As smoking prevalence continues to decline in many countries worldwide, the proportion of lung cancer cases among individuals who have never smoked has increased," the study stated.
Lead author Freddie Bray, head of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC, highlighted that changing smoking habits and exposure to air pollution are key factors influencing lung cancer incidence.
“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 that we see today,” Bray said.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. However, the study emphasizes that lung cancer among non-smokers is now the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, occurring almost exclusively as adenocarcinoma and predominantly affecting women and Asian populations.
In 2022 alone, 908,630 new lung cancer cases were estimated globally among women, out of which 541,971 (59.7%) were adenocarcinoma cases. Among these, 80,378 cases were linked to exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution.
The researchers emphasized that sex-specific trends in lung cancer cases provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to develop targeted prevention strategies.
"The diverging trends by sex in recent generations offer insights to cancer prevention specialists and policy-makers seeking to develop and implement tobacco and air pollution control strategies tailored to high-risk populations," Bray stated.
As of 2019, nearly the entire global population was living in areas that failed to meet WHO’s air quality criteria, raising serious concerns about environmental exposure to carcinogens.
With the rising incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers, the findings underscore the urgency of strengthening air pollution control policies and public health initiatives aimed at reducing exposure to hazardous airborne particles.
This study provides a crucial perspective on lung cancer prevention beyond traditional tobacco control measures, reinforcing the growing need for environmental and air quality reforms to combat rising cancer risks worldwide.
Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted an analysis using data from the Global Cancer Observatory 2022 dataset. Their study estimated national-level lung cancer cases across four subtypes—adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma: The Dominant Lung Cancer Subtype
The study found that adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer that originates in mucus and digestive fluid-producing glands, has become the most prevalent subtype in both men and women worldwide. Notably, adenocarcinoma accounted for 53-70% of lung cancer cases in 2022 among non-smokers globally.
Compared to other lung cancer subtypes, the risk of developing adenocarcinoma is considered weakly associated with cigarette smoking, according to the authors.
"As smoking prevalence continues to decline in many countries worldwide, the proportion of lung cancer cases among individuals who have never smoked has increased," the study stated.
Air Pollution and Changing Cancer Risk Profiles
Lead author Freddie Bray, head of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC, highlighted that changing smoking habits and exposure to air pollution are key factors influencing lung cancer incidence.
“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 that we see today,” Bray said.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. However, the study emphasizes that lung cancer among non-smokers is now the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, occurring almost exclusively as adenocarcinoma and predominantly affecting women and Asian populations.
Lung Cancer Cases Among Women and Air Pollution Impact
In 2022 alone, 908,630 new lung cancer cases were estimated globally among women, out of which 541,971 (59.7%) were adenocarcinoma cases. Among these, 80,378 cases were linked to exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution.
The researchers emphasized that sex-specific trends in lung cancer cases provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to develop targeted prevention strategies.
"The diverging trends by sex in recent generations offer insights to cancer prevention specialists and policy-makers seeking to develop and implement tobacco and air pollution control strategies tailored to high-risk populations," Bray stated.
The Urgent Need for Air Quality Improvement
As of 2019, nearly the entire global population was living in areas that failed to meet WHO’s air quality criteria, raising serious concerns about environmental exposure to carcinogens.
With the rising incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers, the findings underscore the urgency of strengthening air pollution control policies and public health initiatives aimed at reducing exposure to hazardous airborne particles.
This study provides a crucial perspective on lung cancer prevention beyond traditional tobacco control measures, reinforcing the growing need for environmental and air quality reforms to combat rising cancer risks worldwide.
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