Through successful public education campaigns over the last several decades, tobacco use has become so commonly associated with lung cancer that many people are unaware that it’s possible to get lung cancer without smoking.

The reason is not easily pinpointed, however risk factors have been identified for developing lung cancer without smoking. Aside from genetic predispositions, these risk factors can be divided into home and work exposures.

How Does Radon Gas In the Home Contribute to Lung Cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to radon gas in the home is a key risk factor for developing lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that radon gas is invisible and cannot be detected by the human sense of smell, making it difficult to identify in a house without taking the time to specifically test for it.

The gas is a product of uranium deposits in the soil upon which a contaminated house is built and enters the structure in numerous ways. According to the EPA, radon gas is responsible for some 21,000 lung canxer deaths each year. It’s estimated that nearly 3,000 of those who died were not tobacco users.

How Does Second-Hand Smoke In The Home Contribute to Lung Cancer?

While many laws have been enacted to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke in the workplace, living with a smoker who uses tobacco inside a home is a well known risk factor for developing lung cancer without smoking. The American Cancer Society estimates that second-hand smoke related lung cancer accounts for some 7,000 deaths annually.

How Does Asbestos Exposure at Home or Work Contribute to Lung Cancer?

Unless you live in an older home with asbestos insulation or other building materials that have become compromised, the risk of exposure to asbestos in the ordinary household has become minimal to non-existent. Workplace exposures have also decreased as knowledge, regulation, and oversight has increased.

Nevertheless, construction products still in use, as well as those that were formerly used, easily release tiny asbestos fibers into the air when they became compromised. Once breathed in, these fibers become lodged in the lungs and can take several decades before they ‘bring on’ lung cancer or mesothelioma—a cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity and other areas directly connected to this exposure.

While asbestos has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a human carcinogen, it doesn’t always cause cancer. It can contribute to scarring, inflammation, and collections of fluid in the lungs known as pleural plaques and effusions. The presence of these conditions can increase a person’s chances of developing lung cancer.

How Does Exposure to Diesel Fumes Contribute to Lung Cancer?

In a separate article by the American Cancer Society, it’s noted that studies of workers whose occupations are heavily beset with exposure to diesel fumes have provided substantial data to indicate an increased lung cancer risk. These occupations are historically held by men and include railway work, miners, truck drivers, and heavy equipment operators.