The odiferous scent of secondhand smoke is quite familiar to many. Constant exposure has resulted in long-lasting health issues, making nonsmokers cautious of its presence. But how does one avoid such an environment when air itself harbors cancer-causing pollutants? 34,000 adults prematurely die annually from heart disease caused by secondhand smoke. While constant exposure is the cause for serious maladies, a slight inhalation of cigarette smoke can set the cancer particles in motion. The fortunate aspect is that these risks can be mitigated by extra trepidation and care, especially in larger urban areas where secondhand smoke may be more prevalent. But now, micro-pollutants are found to be more detrimental. For nonsmokers, evading coronary heart disease, strokes, and lung cancer just became a lot harder.

The Study

The experiment involved 871 nonsmokers across diverse geographic locations. Through these participants, researchers found that the TP53 gene—normally altered due to tobacco—was also afflicted in the nonsmokers. Telomeres, sections of DNA found at the end of chromosomes, were also identified to have prematurely shrunk. This is usually found among the elderly, whose cells are unable to replicate further. 

This study brought forth a new perspective; before this, most cases of lung cancer and such were focused specifically on tobacco smokers. This revelation in cancer-related DNA mutations shows the extent of the environment’s influence and may cause more studies to be done on preventative measures. Hopefully, the level of damage may alert corporations and the public to find alternatives to combat micro-pollutants caused by motor vehicles and other fossil fuel-dependent machinery. 

The surprising conclusion of this study was that while secondhand smoke was linked to “slightly higher mutation burdens and shorter telomeres,” the tumors in non-exposed patients had increased cancer-related mutations, positing that air pollution is more gene-mutation causing than tobacco. 

Global Effects 

The concern is that while smoking is globally decreasing, particularly in the U.S. and U.K., the majority of lung cancer patients are becoming nonsmokers who are exposed to poor environments out of their control. In China, more than a million deaths occur due to smoking and worsening air quality. East Asia, in particular, is more prone to certain cancers than other geographic regions. 

Seoul, Korea, in particular, is cited as having one of the worst air qualities in the world. Many of its pollutants are caused by Korea’s dependence on diesel fuel, once again, to power motor vehicles. “In 2019, the average concentration of ultrafine dust (PM2.5) in South Korea was the worst among the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).” Chile faces similar problems. 

Air pollutants have diffused across the globe and will remain a prevalent issue for decades to come. Attempts at clean energy are more significant than ever, not just for the future of our planet, but for the current population as well.