Non-smoking lung cancer and environmental exposure

Abstract

While lung cancer mortality has been decreasing in many countries due to tobacco control efforts, at least one quarter of global lung cancer cases occur among non-smokers. There is growing attention being paid to the role of environmental exposures, such as radon and air pollution, in lung cancer. Additionally, recent research efforts have sought to elucidate the distinct characteristics of and mechanisms involved in lung cancer among never smokers. Continued research on non-smoking lung cancer is critical to identifying new opportunities for intervention and addressing the global burden of lung cancer.