| According to the American Cancer Society, lung | | | | smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars does cause lung |
| cancer is still one of the most prevalent forms of | | | | cancer, and this is why it is also true that secondhand |
| cancer today. Even after all of the thousands of | | | | smoke can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers. The |
| antismoking campaigns and a huge decrease in the | | | | more often a person is exposed to tobacco smoke, |
| number of smokers, it is expected that there will be | | | | the greater the risk of lung cancer. |
| more than 215,000 new cases diagnosed this year, | | | | However, cigarette smoking is not the only cause. |
| and there will be nearly 162,000 deaths. | | | | Researchers have also determined that exposure to |
| In 1991 (the latest year that I could find statistics for), | | | | radon is a big risk factor for developing lung cancer. |
| 27% of Americans were smokers. That compares to | | | | Radon is found in mines as well as in various parts of |
| 29% in 1987 and 44% in 1964. The decrease is | | | | the country in the rock and soil. Radon is a radioactive |
| because of more people quitting the smoking habit, and | | | | gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. |
| NOT because of fewer people starting the smoking | | | | Exposure to asbestos is another cause of lung cancer. |
| habit. It's obvious that all of the efforts to prevent | | | | People who work at such jobs in the construction and |
| people from becoming smokers have not been | | | | chemical industries are most at risk for exposure to |
| successful. | | | | asbestos that can cause lung cancer. |
| Cigarette smoking is considered the number one | | | | A family history of lung cancer, even in people who |
| cause of the disease. There are substances in smoke | | | | have never smoked, also creates a higher risk for |
| that cause damage to lung cells. Because of this, | | | | developing the disease. |