Young, healthy non-smokers getting lung cancer? Experts explain why

We always believe that the lungs are damaged due to excessive smoking, but experts have revealed shocking details about how young, healthy non-smokers are getting lung cancer as cases rise at an alarming rate.

A diet packed with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is widely considered one of the best ways to support overall health and reduce the risk of many diseases, including cancer while an unexpected study found that young non-smokers with healthier diets had higher rates of lung cancer, raising questions.

Researchers raised concerns whether pesticide exposure from conventionally grown produce could play a role in lung disease.

They stressed that the findings obtained by the SC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC are preliminary and require further studies before any conclusions can be drawn.

Lung cancer has traditionally been associated with older adults, smokers, and men as the average age at diagnosis is mostly 70 in the U.S.

However, the findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research indicate that younger Americans under age 50 who have never smoked and consume more of these healthy foods than average may face a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

As per researchers, commercially grown, non-organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains generally contain higher levels of pesticide residues than dairy products, meat, and many processed foods.

They also pointed to previous researches showing that agricultural workers with long term pesticide exposure experience higher rates of lung cancer, adding support to the hypothesis.

The study included 187 people who had been diagnosed with lung cancer by age 50.

Participants provided information about their diet, smoking history, demographics, and cancer diagnosis.

Most had never smoked and were diagnosed with a form of lung cancer that differs biologically from the type, typically caused by tobacco use.

Notably, a 2021 study from the Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer Project, the Genomics of Young Lung Cancer Project, also found that lung cancers diagnosed in people younger than 40 represent distinct subtypes compared with those seen in older adults.

Researchers aim to conduct more relevant studies to get more accurate results related to key reasons diagnosed in young adults or "non-smoker."

Additionally, the research materials involved in the study were provided by University of Southern California - Health Sciences and the findings were shared in ScienceDaily.