Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - Risk Factors

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By contrast, agricultural workers seem to have a lower lung cancer rate, despite their possible occupational exposures to risky chemicals. While this rate has traditionally been attributed to good health habits, including low tobacco use, agricultural workers' exposure to endotoxin may be responsible. Endotoxin is a component of common bacteria found in soil and animals, and it may have cancer-preventing effects on the immune system.

Air Pollution. Although any risk from air pollution is very small, it nevertheless may be a contributor to those lung cancers not obviously related to smoking. Some studies have found an association between increased risk for lung cancer and long-term exposure to very small particulates, especially sulfates, in polluted air. The risk, if any, is very small.

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Family History

A family history of lung cancer may play a role in increasing susceptibility to this disease. Women who had mothers or sisters with lung cancer have triple the risk. The risk is higher in both smokers and nonsmokers. There is no association between a history of other cancers and lung cancer. Both genetic factors and secondhand smoke appear to contribute to the danger in these individuals.

Other Diseases that Increase Risk

Smokers with emphysema or chronic inflammatory lung diseases, such as asthma, are at increased risk for lung cancer. Both smokers and nonsmokers whose lungs are scarred from recurrent lung diseases, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, are also at increased risk, particularly for bronchoalveolar lung cancer.

Review Date: 07/01/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).