Lung cancer diagnoses on the rise among never-smokers worldwide

The largest burden of lung cancer attributable to air pollution was found in East Asia, particularly China, the study found. Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

The proportion of people being diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked is increasing, with air pollution an “important factor”, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency has said.

Lung cancer in people who have never smoked cigarettes or tobacco is now estimated to be the fifth highest cause of cancer deaths worldwide, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).