A new study has revealed that fine particles in air pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer in women who have never smoked.
According to research presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), small particles from vehicle emissions and burning wood can raise the risk of lung tumors.
While smoking remains the greatest risk factor for lung cancer, an estimated 6,000 people who have never smoked die from the disease each year.
Despite a decrease in smoking rates, some studies indicate a rise in lung cancer cases among young women and non-smokers.
A 2017 study found that the rate of lung cancer among non-smokers in the UK had doubled between 2008 and 2014.
Another 2023 report from the American Cancer Society noted that women aged 35 to 54 are now more frequently diagnosed with lung cancer compared to men in the same age group.