studies have illuminated a troubling correlation between particulate air pollution and the genetic mutations observed in lung cancers among nonsmokers. Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the University of California, San Diego, revealed that lung tumors from 871 never-smokers exhibited increased mutations in regions with elevated levels of fine-particulate air pollution . This finding challenges previous assumptions that tobacco exposure was the primary catalyst for such genetic alterations.
tobacco smoking. They also observed a relationship between air pollution and shorter telomeres, which are sections of DNA found at the end of chromosomes. Telomeres shorten naturally with age and shorter telomeres are related to cells inability to continue to replicate. However, scientists found fine particulate air pollution was linked to premature shortening of telomeres.
lung cancer have focused on tobacco smokers, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of how lung cancer develops in people who have never used tobacco. By beginning to uncover the mechanisms through which tissues acquire cancer-causing or cancer-promoting mutations following environmental exposures, this study helps scientists better understand the primary drivers of lung cancer in this population—which represents up to 25% of all lung cancer cases globally.
With smoking in decline in many parts of the world, including the UK and the US, people who have never smoked are making up a larger proportion of lung cancer patients. Current estimates suggest that 10-25% of lung cancers are now diagnosed in this group. Almost all such cancers are a form known as adenocarcinoma.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. About 2.5m new cases are diagnosed globally each year. More than a million of the deaths occur in China, where smoking, air pollution and other environmental contaminants are factors.
Recent research found that the highest rates of adenocarcinoma attributable to air pollution were in east Asia. While cases in the UK were much lower, they still amounted to more than 1,100 new diagnoses a year, scientists found.
The study highlights significant mutations in genes commonly associated with smoking-related lung cancer, particularly changes in the TP53 gene. Additionally, researchers noted that these tumors displayed shorter telomeres, which are indicative of genetic instability and cellular aging . These findings suggest that environmental factors, specifically air quality, could play a crucial role in driving cancer mutations among individuals who have never smoked.
As urbanization increases and pollution levels rise globally, understanding these associations becomes imperative. The implications of this research extend beyond public health; they underscore the necessity for stricter air quality regulations to mitigate the risk of lung cancer among vulnerable populations . Consequently, addressing particulate matter exposure may be vital for improving health outcomes and reducing cancer incidence in nonsmoking individuals.
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