Researchers Link Air Pollution to Rising Lung Cancer Risk in Non-Smokers

DETROIT — Newly published research conducted in Wayne County, Mich. found that non-smokers, particularly women, who lived near textile and industrial plants were more likely to develop lung cancer and be diagnosed at an advanced stage, compared to non-smokers living further away. 

Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer, but a rising number of new cases are being documented in people who have never smoked. About 20% of lung cancer cases now occur in non-smokers.   

To better understand the relationship between air quality and lung cancer, researchers at Detroit-based Henry Ford Health, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, examined 2,223 lung cancer cases diagnosed from 2013 to 2021 in Wayne County, Michigan. They analyzed patients' demographic information – residence, smoking history and stage of the disease – and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s air quality and pollution data from 1980 to 2018 for Wayne County.  

While the study focused on Metro Detroit, researchers said their findings have implications beyond Michigan. Areas with heavy traffic, industrial activity or limited air quality monitoring could face similar risks. Living near pollution sources — a burden that disproportionally falls on historically under-served and low-income communities — makes people especially vulnerable to serious health impacts. 

“We also looked at how much exposure is required to trigger disease,” Dr. Ikenna Okereke, a thoracic surgeon at Henry Ford Health and one of the study's authors said. "We're doing more studies on that, but it might not be as long as you think. In some cases, it may only take years of exposure – not decades.” 

The findings shed new light on the risks of chronic exposure to harmful air pollutants, which can cause DNA mutations and inflammation that make lung tissue more prone to cancer, according to Dr. Okereke. 

“I grew up here in Detroit, I really care about the city, and I want to take these findings and extend them throughout the world," says Dr. Okereke. “The more people we have who are involved and who are interested in the community, the stronger our potential outcomes from the research will be.” 

How to protect yourself — and get involved 

While large-scale change takes time, Okereke said there are small steps people can take today to reduce exposure to pollutions such as:  

• Regularly checking air quality alerts 

• Limiting outdoor activity on high pollution days 

• Using indoor air filtration to improve air inside the home 

Henry Ford Health researchers are also looking for volunteers to help expand a growing air quality sensor network in Wayne County.  

Since 2021, the team has deployed hundreds of sensors across the area, creating one of the most detailed pollution maps used in this type of research. The data helps identify neighborhoods at highest risk and guide decisions about where additional monitoring is needed. 

For more information on how to get involved, email HenryFordair@gmail.com.   

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