Non-smokers get lung cancer from a variety of factors such as family history and exposure to dangerous materials such as asbestos.

What is Lung Cancer?

According to the Mayo Clinic, lung cancer is a malignant condition that begins in the spongy tissue of the lungs. Symptoms of lung cancer typically do not show up until the disease has reached its most advanced stages. At this time, symptoms may include persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, bone paid, and headaches.

What Is the Primary Cause of Lung Cancer?

Smoking is generally considered the most common cause of lung cancer. Cigarettes are loaded with a toxic mix of thousands of chemicals which can cause serious damage to the lungs. Many of the ingredients in cigarettes are poisonous or are known carcinogens.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking increases the risk for cancer by 15 to 30 times. Smoking is reportedly linked to between 80 and 90 percent of lung cancer deaths.

Why Do Non-Smokers Get Lung Cancer?

Although smoking is considered to be one of the most common risk factors for lung cancer, non-smokers get lung cancer regularly. The disease has many other risk factors including: asbestos, radon gas, secondhand smoke, air pollution, gene mutations, family history, and more.

Most people know the dangers of asbestos. The material used to be prized for its natural resistance to heat, chemical corrosion, and electricity. Due to these properties, asbestos was often added into industrial materials such as insulation, sealant, and more. Years after the substance rose in popularity, it was revealed that the asbestos could cause cancer.

Although the health risks of asbestos are widely known, some consumers overlook the real risk of lung cancer associated with asbestos. Of the 200,000 Americans who are diagnosed with lung cancer every year, over 4,800 Americans die each year from asbestos lung cancer.

When asbestos containing items are disturbed, they can release microscopic asbestos particles into the air which can then be inhaled, ingested, or attached to clothing where they can be transported elsewhere to cause secondhand exposure. If asbestos fibers reach the lungs, the body struggles to expel them. As a result, the fibers stay in the lungs and cause cellular damage – leading to mutations and the development of lung cancer.

In some cases, asbestos exposure may compound with smoking to result in an increased risk of lung cancer. Even if smoking was the primary cause, asbestos exposure can play a significant role in lung cancer development as a secondary cause.

Who Is at Risk for Asbestos Lung Cancer?

Individuals in various occupations may be at a higher risk for asbestos lung cancer based on current or former exposure. At risk occupations include:

• Navy
• Military
• Shipyard workers
• Auto mechanics
• Toll collectors
• Paper mill workers
• Construction workers
• Roofers
• Textile workers
• Insulation installers
• Tilers
• Plumbers
• Sheet metal workers
• Linotype technicians

Although some of these occupations may no longer be exposed to asbestos, others (especially construction and trade workers) may be exposed to asbestos when working in older buildings.