Air Pollution and Lung Cancer: What's the Link?

Lung cancer is on the rise among non-smokers, and scientists suspect air pollution may be a significant factor. A recent study examined the DNA of lung tumors in 871 non-smokers worldwide, revealing a strong link between pollution and cancer-related DNA changes.

Key Findings

• Exposure to pollution was associated with more DNA changes linked to cancer.
• The study found a new type of DNA change, SBS40a, exclusive to non-smokers.
• Non-smokers in polluted areas were nearly four times more likely to have the SBS4 DNA change, commonly seen in smokers.
• Secondhand smoke did not show a strong link to DNA changes, suggesting its effect may be too weak to detect.

Limitations and Future Research

• The study only considered regional pollution levels, not individual exposure.
• Some participants may have underreported smoking.
• Despite these limitations, the findings support the idea that pollution may trigger cancer similarly to smoking.

Scientists plan to study more cancer genomes globally to better understand this growing issue.