More than 1,100 people in the UK develop lung cancer each year due to air pollution, according to a new analysis by the World Health Organization’s cancer agency. The study, conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), found that exposure to toxic air contributed to 515 cases of adenocarcinoma in men and 590 in women in 2022.
Adenocarcinoma, now the most common form of lung cancer, has seen rising cases globally, with air pollution playing a major role. The UK’s rates of air pollution-linked adenocarcinoma are significantly higher than those in the US and Canada and four times higher than Finland, which had the lowest rates in northern Europe.
Health Experts Urge Government Action to Reduce Air Pollution
Experts and campaigners have described the findings as “devastating” and a “wake-up call” for UK policymakers. Paula Chadwick, CEO of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, stressed the urgency of addressing air pollution:
“This data is as equally shocking as it is important. We have always been aware that air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer, but we can now see how stark the impact truly is. This hard evidence must prompt action.”
Professor Andrew Haines of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the government must tackle air pollution’s health impacts with greater urgency.
Dr. Helen Croker of the World Cancer Research Fund added that only decisive government action can reduce the toll of pollution-related cancer cases. “We already know pollution is a risk factor for lung cancer, but these figures highlight just how important environmental causes can be when looking at cancer risk.”
Lung Cancer Cases Rising, With Adenocarcinoma Leading the Surge
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with 2.5 million people diagnosed in 2022. Over the past few decades, adenocarcinoma has become the dominant subtype, particularly affecting non-smokers.
In 2022, adenocarcinoma accounted for 45.6% of global lung cancer cases among men and 59.7% among women. The IARC estimates that approximately 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma worldwide were directly linked to air pollution.
East Asia recorded the highest rates of pollution-related lung cancer, with China reporting 6.15 cases per 100,000 men and 4.25 cases per 100,000 women. The UK’s rates (0.66 and 0.7 per 100,000) were significantly lower but still higher than those in the US (0.49 and 0.53) and Canada (0.38 and 0.41), highlighting the need for stronger air quality regulations.
Calls for Stricter Air Pollution Targets Grow Louder
Health organizations and environmental advocates have called for stricter air pollution limits to protect public health. Sarah Sleet, CEO of Asthma + Lung UK, criticized the government for failing to act decisively:
“It’s not a shock to see the UK so high up in these depressing league tables of adenocarcinoma caused by air pollution. Yet the government continues to approve projects that will increase pollution, like the Heathrow expansion, rather than setting stricter targets.”
Livi Elsmore, campaign manager at the Healthy Air Coalition, called for urgent policy changes: “These findings must be a wake-up call for ministers. The government must take immediate action to clean up the air across the UK.”
The UK government has yet to respond to the latest findings. However, with mounting evidence linking air pollution to lung cancer, campaigners are demanding swift and decisive action to improve air quality and protect public health.
