Lung cancer is a common type of cancer in the U.S. which accounts to many deaths. Most of the lung cancer cases are related to smoking. Smoking cigarettes is known to cause cancer in every 9 out of 10 cases.
Apart from smoking, lung cancer can be caused due to other factors. Passive smoking poses a risk for non smokers. 3% of the lung cancers are known to be caused due to the exposure of secondhand smoke.
Emissions from factories, vehicles and other sources increase air pollution, which can potentially increase lung cancer risk. Constant exposure to air filled with toxic chemicals can be very harmful. Risk of lung cancer raises by up to nine times because of exposure to asbestos.
The risk increases by almost 50 times for smokers exposed to asbestos. Certain lung diseases such as COPD or TB are also risk factors of lung cancer. Exposure to radon, a by-product of radium also poses a threat.
