The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has found a significant link between air pollution and an increase in lung cancer deaths among non-smokers. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, adenocarcinoma is now the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.
A study published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal found that 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma were associated with exposure to air pollution in 2022. The largest burden of these cases was found in east Asia, particularly China. Researchers say the findings highlight the need for urgent monitoring of lung cancer trends.
The study’s lead author notes that declining smoking rates are contributing to an increase in non-smoker adenocarcinoma cases. To mitigate this trend, future strategies will be crucial in curtailing tobacco use and air pollution worldwide. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality globally, with 2.5 million people diagnosed in 2022.
Adenocarcinoma has become the dominant subtype of lung cancer among both men and women, accounting for 59.7% of global cases in women and 45.6% in men in 2022. The rise in adenocarcinoma cases among women is narrowing the gap with men, who still account for most lung cancer cases.
Cancer experts warn that the link between air pollution and adenocarcinoma suggests a growing need to address environmental factors contributing to lung cancer. Researchers are racing to understand the causal relationship between air pollution and lung cancer beyond smoking.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/03/lung-cancer-never-smokers-rise-worldwide-air-pollution