Adenocarcinoma Cases Surge Globally, Linked to Poor Air
Quality
Lung cancer cases among non-smokers are on the rise,
with air pollution emerging as a significant contributing factor,
according to a new study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine on
World Cancer Day.
Adenocarcinoma: The Dominant Lung Cancer Type in
Non-Smokers
The study found that adenocarcinoma, a type of lung
cancer originating in the glands that produce mucus and other fluids, accounted
for 53-70% of lung cancer cases in non-smokers worldwide in 2022.
Unlike other forms of lung cancer, adenocarcinoma is only weakly linked to
smoking, suggesting that environmental factors like air pollution could
play a major role.
With global smoking rates declining, the proportion
of lung cancer cases among non-smokers has increased significantly.
Adenocarcinoma is now the most common type of lung cancer across all
sexes. The study estimates that in 2022, there were 908,000 new lung
cancer cases among women, with 59.7% being adenocarcinoma.
Global Air Quality Below WHO Standards
The study, led by experts from the International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO),
analyzed data from the Global Cancer Observatory (2022) and other
sources. Researchers categorized lung cancer cases into four subtypes: adenocarcinoma,
squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.
As of 2019, nearly the entire global population lived
in areas where air quality fell below WHO safety standards. Lead author Freddie
Bray, head of IARC’s cancer surveillance branch, emphasized that the
findings offer crucial insights for policymakers looking to develop tobacco
and air pollution control strategies.
Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers: A Growing Global Concern
The report also highlighted that lung cancer in
non-smokers is now the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths
worldwide. This trend is particularly evident in women and Asian
populations, where adenocarcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed
type.
The study underscores the urgent need for stricter air
pollution control measures, as environmental risks continue to impact
global health.