Lung Cancer Risks
Because our lungs draw in and utilize the air from outside of our body, anything that we breathe in can affect their health.
By far, the most important risk for lung cancer is smoking tobacco. Nearly 87% of all lung cancers in the United States are smoking-related. Quitting smoking helps to reduce that risk.
Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risk of lung cancer. According to the 2006 Surgeon General's Report on the effects of secondhand smoke, nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20 percent to 30 percent. Secondhand smoke also increases the risk of heart disease and other ailments.
Other environment (outside of the body) substances that can increase the risk of developing lung cancer include:
Genetics can also play a role in the development of lung cancer, either by directly causing the cancer or by making one more susceptible to damage caused by environmental factors.