A member asked:

Can the average person breath enough air pollution to give them lung cancer in their lifetime?

3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Possible: Depending on genetic predisposition, it is possible for a person to get lung cancer from breathing polluted air. The risk is even higher if the pollution has radioactivity, such as radon gas. About 10% of the lung cancers occur in non-smokers.

Answered 12/1/2013

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Dr. Craig Carter answered

Specializes in Thoracic Surgery

Possibly: Not all lung cancer patients smoke. An increasing percentage are developing cancer despite not being smokers. Interestingly, the air quality now is probably better than it was during our peak industrial years.

Answered 12/5/2013

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