A recent study has found a strong association between air pollution and lung cancer-driving DNA mutations in people who have never smoked tobacco. Researchers analyzed the genetic code of 871 lung tumors from never-smokers in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia as part of the Sherlock-Lung study. The findings suggest that fine-particulate air pollution is linked to mutations in the TP53 gene, which are typically associated with tobacco smoking.
The study also found that people exposed to greater air pollution have shorter telomeres, a sign of rapid cell division, making it a hallmark of cancer. With smoking rates declining globally, never-smokers are now accounting for 10-25% of lung cancer diagnoses. The research highlights an urgent and growing global problem, with lung cancer remaining the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.
The study suggests that air pollution is a significant risk factor for lung cancer, particularly in east Asia where cases attributed to air pollution were highest. However, the exact mechanisms behind this association are still not fully understood. Further investigation is needed to clarify the relationship between air pollution and lung cancer, with scientists focusing on mysterious mutational signatures found in never-smokers.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jul/02/air-pollution-lung-cancer-dna-mutations-study