Causes of Lung Cancer & Risk Factors

Medical researchers have not been able to identify the exact causes of lung cancer, but the evidence from clinical trials and medical experience built up over time reveals a strong connection between several risk factors and lung cancer.

Smoking: This is the number one cause for lung cancer.

a) Smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes. Cigarettes, cigars and pipes contain a high number of carcinogens (chemicals proven to be cancer-causing substances) which damage the lung cells. The risk for developing lung cancer when smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes increases when: 1) the smoking habit starts at an young age, 2) the smoking habit extends over a lot of years, 3) the number of cigarettes/cigars/pipes per day is high, and 4) the smoker inhales deeply.
b) Being a passive smoker, also called secondhand or involuntary smoker. These terms refer to a person that is exposed to an environmental tobacco smoke (the air inhaled contains cigarette smoke).

Exposure to radon. This is the second major cause of lung cancer. Radon is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas that naturally occurs in soil and rocks. A person can be exposed to radon if the soil under the house or work building contains this gas. The gas can enter the house or building through foundation and isolation gaps or cracks, through pipes, drains, or walls. Another source of radon exposure is related to certain jobs like working in a mine.

Exposure to work-related carcinogens. One of the work-related substance that can cause cancer is asbestos. Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that are highly used in industry. The jobs related to high asbestos exposure are: shipbuilding, asbestos mining and manufacturing, insulation work, and brake repair.

Other work-related substances that can cause cancer are: uranium (the heaviest naturally metallic chemical element extremely radioactive that naturally occurs in low concentrations in soil, rock and water), arsenic (is a chemical element which is used as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and various alloys), and certain petroleum products.

Exposure to pollution. Recent studies suggests that exposure to certain air pollutants (by-products of the combination of diesel and other fossil fuels) increase the risk for lung cancer. Even if the lung cancer takes many years to develop, changes in the cells’ growth and division process occur as soon as the body is exposed to carcinogens. At the beginning, the changes (abnormal cells) are kept under control by the body, but if the exposure continues, more abnormal cells appear, and the risk for tumors increases.

Medical history: If a person suffered from lung cancer in the past, he/she has a higher risk to develop lung cancer a second time. This risk is higher if the person did not stop smoking nor avoids exposure to carcinogens. Also, certain lung diseases, like tuberculosis, increases the risk for lung cancer. Unfortunately, lung cancer tends to occur in scarred lung tissues caused by tuberculosis.

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Conditions & Diseases: Cancer

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Causes and Risk Factors