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The available evidence suggests that air pollution, especially particulates, can cause lung cancer though the risk from air pollution is very modest and much, much smaller than the risk of lung cancer from cigarette smoking. A new study from Norway implicates the pollutant nitrogen dioxide which comes primarily from vehicles. The investigators followed 16,209 Norwegian men, ages 40 to 49 at entry, for 27 years; 418 developed lung cancer. Exposure to higher amounts of nitrogen dioxide increased risk by 25 to 37 percent. There was a dose-response relationship - the greater the nitrogen dioxide exposure, the greater the risk. There was no evidence that another air pollutant, sulfur dioxide, increased the lung cancer risk.

The increase was very modest. As the authors noted “compared with smoking, the association between air pollution and lung cancer is weak.

It does seem reasonably clear that air pollution, both particulates and nitrogen dioxide, can cause lung cancer in non-smokers and can increase the risk of lung cancer associated with smoking.

Air pollution certainly is related to asthma and other lung problems. Although it can also cause lung cancer, the risk is quite small.

Nafstad, P., et al. Lung cancer and air pollution: A 27-year follow up of 16,209 Norwegian men. Thorax. Vol 58 (December) Pgs 1071-1076. 2003.

[The failure to control pollution and the weakening of some laws and regulations designed to reduce air pollution in the United States should be of great concern - Ed]

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