What factors cause lung cancer?

What factors cause lung cancer? Lung cancer is the most common primary lung malignancy. Most lung cancers originate from the bronchial mucosal epithelium, so it is also called bronchial lung cancer. In order to better prevent lung cancer, it is important to know what factors cause lung cancer. So what factors cause lung cancer?

The incidence of lung cancer is increasing year by year, becoming one of the major killers of human health. The causes of lung cancer are closely related to smoking, occupational hazards and environmental pollution.

1. Smoking

Smoking has been recognized as the most important carcinogenic factor causing lung cancer. In Europe and the United States, the risk of lung cancer is attributed to smoking at about 90%. The smoke produced after the cigarette is lit contains more than 3,000 toxic chemicals, the most important of which are nicotine, carbon monoxide, cyanide, various carcinogens in tobacco tar, radioactive isotopes, and heavy metal elements. The carcinogens produced by tobacco combustion include benzopyrene, nitrosamines, β-naphthylamine, cadmium, radioactive polonium, etc. There are also carcinogenic substances such as phenolic compounds.

The mortality rate of non-smoking women who suffer from lung cancer due to passive smoking caused by their husbands' smoking is 1 to 2 times higher than that of women whose husbands do not smoke (no passive smoking). If a smoker smokes an average of 20 cigarettes a day, the risk of lung cancer for smokers who have smoked for 20 years is 20 times higher than that of non-smokers. The number of people who start smoking before the age of 20 who die from lung cancer is 28 times higher than that of non-smokers.

2. Occupational factors

At present, it is believed that occupations that are in contact with the following substances are related to the occurrence of lung cancer: asbestos, arsenic compounds, chromium compounds, nickel compounds, dichloromethyl ether, ionizing radiation, mustard gas, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coal smoke, tar, and petroleum. Factors suspected to be related to the occurrence of lung cancer include: beryllium, cadmium, lead, vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, chlorotoluene, methyl sulfide, glass fiber, silica dust, talcum powder, formaldehyde, etc., as well as occupations such as casting, rubber production, electric welding, construction, painting, certain pesticide production and application, and petroleum refining. For example, the number of asbestos workers who die from lung cancer is 7 times that of the general population, and the risk of lung cancer among asbestos workers who smoke is 50 to 90 times that of the general population. This is due to the synergistic effect of smoking and asbestos.

3. Environmental pollution

If industrial waste gas is not properly handled, it can pollute the environment and atmosphere inside and outside factories and mines. In addition, the large amount of coal, diesel, and gasoline burned every day in cities, as well as the paving of asphalt roads and the use of motor vehicles, can all lead to air pollution in densely populated areas. What is disturbing is that environmental pollution is still one of the important causes of disease and death among urban and rural residents. More than 10% of lung cancer cases in general cities are caused by air pollution. Oil fume and coal smoke pollution in the kitchen are one of the causes of lung cancer in non-smoking women. In recent years, stone, paint, floor glue, plastic decorations, adhesives, etc. used in interior decoration have brought indoor pollution.

In addition, indoor radon pollution is also one of the factors that cause lung cancer. Radon is a radioactive substance that is widely present in soil, rocks, and building materials in nature. It is a product of the decay of uranium and radium. Radon isotopes and their decay products are called radon progeny. Wherever there is radon, there will be progeny. Radon and its progeny are harmful to human health. Radon can enter the room through the foundation, gaps in buildings, joints of building materials, loose parts of pipes entering the room, and radon may also escape into the room from building materials.

4. Other factors

Previous lung diseases, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc.

Compared with the above four factors, the effect of previous medical history is relatively small. The selenium content in the blood of residents in a high-incidence area of ​​lung cancer is relatively low. Domestic and foreign studies have confirmed that a certain amount of selenium has an inhibitory and preventive effect on cancer.

Through the above explanation, we know the factors that cause lung cancer. I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the causes of lung cancer. If you find that you have symptoms suspected of lung cancer, you must go to a regular hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time. I hope this article can help you or your friends. This article is for reference only. If you have other questions about lung cancer, please consult our experts online.

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