Experts warn that air pollution is significantly increasing lung cancer cases among non-smokers.
An article in The Guardian (9 February 2025) references experts warning that air pollution is driving a global increase in the number of non-smokers diagnosed with lung cancer each year.
Analysis by the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC - the World Health Organisation’s cancer agency) examined for the first time the impact of air pollution on adenocarcinoma - the most prevalent type of lung cancer. It found that air pollution caused 1105 cases in the UK (515 men and 590 women) - a figures four times that of Finland which had the lowest rates in northern Europe.
The Guardian article referenced Paula Chadwick of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation:
"The data is as equally shocking as it is important. We have always been aware that air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer but we can see how stark the impact truly is”.
There was also reference to Sarah Sleet, the Chief Executive of Asthma and Lung UK:
“Sadly its not a shock to see the UK so high up in these depressing league tables yet still the government fails to take decisive action, even last week giving the go-ahead to an additional runway at Heathrow which will undoubtedly increase air pollution”.
Previous research has show that air pollution also causes dementia, heart disease and various respiratory conditions.
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