A groundbreaking study, published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal on World Cancer Day, has revealed a disturbing trend in lung cancer cases among non-smokers, particularly Chinese women. The research highlights a surge in adenocarcinoma, the most common subtype of lung cancer, with East Asia, and China in particular, recording the highest levels linked to air pollution. This study underscores the significant impact of environmental factors on health, emphasizing air pollution as a major contributor.
The study, funded by a Chinese organization, analyzed data from 2020 to 2022, using information from monitors including the World Health Organization. It found that adenocarcinoma has become predominant among women in 185 countries, accounting for around six in ten cases. The research observed that while most lung cancer cases occur in men, there is a notable increase among women, nearing a million cases.
"As smoking prevalence continues to decline in many countries worldwide, the proportion of lung cancer in people who have never smoked has increased," said researchers involved in the study.
Air pollution emerged as a critical factor linked to the rise in adenocarcinoma. Researchers indicated that exposure to household burning of solid fuels for heating and cooking could be a causal factor. The study's findings suggest that air pollution significantly contributes to the emergence of adenocarcinoma, which accounts for 53 to 70 percent of lung cancer cases among non-smokers globally.
"Exposure to household burning of solid fuels for heating and cooking could be a causal factor of lung cancer," remarked researchers.
"Air pollution can be considered an important factor that partly explains the emerging predominance of adenocarcinoma that accounts for 53 to 70 per cent of cases of lung cancer among people who have never smoked worldwide," stated the study.
In 2022 alone, lung cancer was diagnosed in approximately 2.5 million people, making it the most common form of cancer. The rise in adenocarcinoma from 2020 to 2022 was noted among both genders. However, women and individuals in Southeast Asia are particularly affected by this increase.
"Lung cancer in people who have never smoked is estimated to be the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, occurring almost exclusively as adenocarcinoma and most commonly in women and Asian populations," researchers noted.
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