{"id":12480,"date":"2025-11-28T20:48:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T15:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goseeko.com\/blog\/?p=12480"},"modified":"2025-12-01T21:16:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T15:46:33","slug":"more-non-smokers-in-delhi-are-developing-lung-cancer-says-new-study-air-pollution-in-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goseeko.com\/blog\/more-non-smokers-in-delhi-are-developing-lung-cancer-says-new-study-air-pollution-in-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"More Non-Smokers in Delhi Are Developing Lung Cancer, says new Study: Air Pollution in Focus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Lung Cancer Patients Are Non-Smokers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two decades ago, nearly 90 percent of lung cancer patients were smokers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A decade ago, around 70 percent of patients under 50 were non-smokers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among patients below 30 years of age, none had a smoking history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Doctors Warn About the Pollution-Cancer Link<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lung cancer, once considered mainly a smoker\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical Experts Call for Urgent Action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at AIIMS and India\u2019s representative at the APAC Consensus, said, \u201cThe link between air pollution and lung cancer is no longer a suspicion\u2014it is a reality we are living with in Delhi.\u201d https:\/\/www.accademiadellospettacolo.it\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The APAC Consensus report recommends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n