Lung Cancer Is Rising in Non-Smokers. Scientists Are Looking for Causes

Although a lot fewer people are smoking cigarettes, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

Recent research has found that lung cancer is rising among people who have never smoked, especially in women and Asian populations. Scientists have cited air pollution, ultra-processed foods, and exposure to certain chemicals and fumes as potential risks.

Smoking Isn't the Only Risk Factor for Lung Cancer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 10% to 20% of lung cancer cases each year happen in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.

Smoking and secondhand smoke aren't the only risk factors for lung cancer. A recent study in Nature linked some “never-smoker” lung cancer cases to