• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Reason people who have never smoked are possibly being diagnosed with lung cancer

Home> News> Health

Published 17:39 5 Feb 2025 GMT

Reason people who have never smoked are possibly being diagnosed with lung cancer

The research published showed some surprising results

Ella Scott

Ella Scott

Experts have explained why people who don’t smoke cigarettes being diagnosed with lung cancer is possibly increasing—and the answer may surprise you.

Lung cancer, the third most common cancer in the US, and according to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, one in 16 US citizens will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime - with those who smoke cigarettes and/or cigars are more likely to develop the health issue than others.

However, scientists believe there’s actually another reason people across the globe may be suffering from the disease.

To coincide with World Cancer Day (February 4), experts from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have outlined findings from a recent experiment in the revered Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.

Advert

Their paper, titled ‘Estimated worldwide variation and trends in incidence of lung cancer by histological subtype in 2022 and over time: a population-based study’, saw authorities utilising data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Volumes VII–XII, and members of the African Cancer Registry Network to come by results.

The experts used their findings to ‘calculate country-specific, sex-specific, and age-specific proportions of and sex-specific and age-specific incidence rates per 100 000 people for all four histological subtypes.’

Researchers believe non-smokers are being diagnosed with lung cancer due to increased air pollution (Getty Stock Image)
Researchers believe non-smokers are being diagnosed with lung cancer due to increased air pollution (Getty Stock Image)

These subtypes are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma [SCC], small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.

Advert

Adenocarcinoma, the most dominant of the four subtypes of the disease, was revealed to be the fifth largest leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide in those who have never smoked.

Results also showed there were an estimated 1.6 million new cases of lung cancer in men in 2022 and 909,000 cases in women - even as the amount of smokers declined globally.

Researchers claimed that the biggest contributing factor to these specific lung cancer cases was likely down to air pollution.

“Air pollution can be considered an important factor that partly explains the emerging predominance of adenocarcinoma that accounts for 53% to 70% of cases of lung cancer among people who have never smoked worldwide,” the study states.

Advert

Speaking about how lung cancer is evolving, Dr. Freddie Bray, head of the IARC’s cancer surveillance branch and lead author of the study, said: “The results provide important insights as to how both the disease and the underlying risk factors are evolving, offering clues as to how we can optimally prevent lung cancer worldwide.

Smoking is decreasing globally (Getty stock images)
Smoking is decreasing globally (Getty stock images)

“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.

“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.”

Advert

Following the publication of the study, the IARC has stated that further investigation into how air pollution and other possible casual factors can cause lung cancer is needed.

You can check out the full study here.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image

Topics: Health, Cancer, Science

Ella Scott
Ella Scott

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Woman shares the change in bathroom habits she noticed before being diagnosed with stage four cancer
  • Man diagnosed with throat cancer ‘surprised’ to learn it was caused by oral sex
  • Woman who dismissed symptom with back as 'injury' diagnosed with deadly rare cancer
  • Woman, 35, dies just days after being diagnosed with cancer after two crucial signs were missed

Choose your content:

10 mins ago
23 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 10 mins ago

    Why Zelenskyy cannot adhere to one of Trump's demands on how he can end war 'almost immediately'

    Donald Trump publicly outlined what Ukraine supposedly needs to do to end the war

    News
  • 23 mins ago

    Sharon Stone details surprise date with this notable rapper and it's left people absolutely speechless

    Sharon Stone has opened up about the rumor

    Celebrity
  • an hour ago

    Terrifying clip shows infamous serial killer Richard Ramirez's eerie response when asked why he killed people

    Ramirez earned the name The Night Stalker as he attacked and killed victims in Los Angeles

    News
  • an hour ago

    Death row inmate makes chilling request as he awaits execution for murdering girlfriend

    Scotty Gardner went gambling with two of his friends after strangling his girlfriend Heather Stubbs to death with a cord from a curling iron

    News