A recent study has identified air pollution as a key driver of the increasing cases of lung cancer among non-smokers, with women and people in Southeast Asia being particularly affected. The findings, published on Tuesday in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal to mark World Cancer Day, highlight the growing impact of environmental factors on lung health.
Lung cancer remains the most common form of cancer, with 2.5 million diagnoses recorded in 2022. While the majority of cases were found in men, nearly a million cases were reported among women, reflecting a growing trend. The study noted that adenocarcinoma—a key subtype of lung cancer—has become the predominant form among women in 185 countries.
Researchers emphasized that air pollution plays a significant role in the rising prevalence of adenocarcinoma, which accounts for 53–70% of lung cancer cases among non-smokers worldwide. Between 2020 and 2022, the proportion of this cancer type increased in both men and women, with women showing the highest rates, where it contributed to approximately six out of every ten cases.
“As smoking rates decline globally, the proportion of lung cancer cases among non-smokers has risen,” the study stated. “Lung cancer in never-smokers is now the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, occurring predominantly as adenocarcinoma, especially among women and Asian populations.”
The research, based on statistical data from sources including the World Health Organization, pointed to East Asia—particularly China—as having the highest levels of adenocarcinoma linked to air pollution. The study also suggested that household air pollution, resulting from the burning of solid fuels for heating and cooking, could be a contributing factor in the increasing cases among Chinese women who have never smoked.
