Air pollution in Delhi has long been seen as an unavoidable part of city life. But a new health warning suggests that it may now be turning into a serious public health crisis. A report by the Asia Pacific Lung Cancer Policy Consensus (APAC Consensus) has revealed a troubling rise in lung cancer cases among people who have never smoked.
The findings point to chronic exposure to polluted air as a major risk factor and call for urgent action, including stronger environmental laws, better screening facilities, and wider awareness about lung cancer risks beyond smoking.
More Lung Cancer Patients Are Non-Smokers
A 30-year study conducted by the Centre for Chest Surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and the Lung Care Foundation shows a dramatic shift in patient profiles.
Two decades ago, nearly 90 percent of lung cancer patients were smokers.
A decade ago, around 70 percent of patients under 50 were non-smokers.
Among patients below 30 years of age, none had a smoking history.
Doctors believe the possible reasons include long-term exposure to second-hand smoke, vehicle fumes, industrial pollution, cooking oil vapours, and indoor fuels such as coal.
Doctors Warn About the Pollution-Cancer Link
Although the link between air pollution and lung cancer is still being studied in detail, doctors are increasingly convinced that toxic air plays a major contributing role, sometimes even more than smoking.
Lung cancer, once considered mainly a smoker’s disease, is now increasingly affecting both men and women who have never smoked. Studies show that lung cancer cases have increased by at least 2 percent for both men and women between 1988 and 2015.
Poor AQI levels in Delhi are also linked to a higher risk of respiratory illnesses. Across India, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. According to the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, India accounts for 5.9% of global cancer cases and 8.1% of cancer-related deaths.
Medical Experts Call for Urgent Action
Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at AIIMS and India’s representative at the APAC Consensus, said, “The link between air pollution and lung cancer is no longer a suspicion—it is a reality we are living with in Delhi.” https://www.accademiadellospettacolo.it/
The APAC Consensus report recommends:
- Expanding lung cancer risk definitions beyond smoking
- Improving access to early screening
- Reducing stigma faced by non-smoking patients
- Ensuring equal and affordable treatment
- Enforcing strict environmental controls on air pollution
A Wake-Up Call for the City
The rising number of lung cancer cases among non-smokers is a serious warning for Delhi. What was once seen as an inconvenience is now turning into a life-threatening risk.