Radon RESEARCH Series
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Studying all causes of Lung Cancer
With funding from the Canadian Cancer Society , we are studying :
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Canada . While the incidence of tobacco smoke-related lung cancer is now decreasing , the incidence of lung cancer among people who do not smoke tobacco is rising . It is crucial to better understand our exposures to non-tobacco lung cancer risk factors to ensure everyone who needs lung cancer screening can access it .
Radon Gas : Radioactive radon can accumulate to cancer-causing levels in any building and damages lung DNA . Long-term exposure to radon levels at or exceeding 100 Bq / m ³ significantly raises lifetime lung cancer risk .
Air Pollution ( PM₂ . ₅ ): Long-term exposure to fine , particulate matter of 2.5 microns in size (“ PM₂ . ₅ )” from natural and human-made combustion ( such as forest fires and fossil fuel use ) increases lung cancer risk , and can compound risk from both radon and arsenic .
Arsenic : A toxic metalloid that is found both naturally in groundwater and released by industries . Arsenic poses a lung cancer risk , especially to people living in more rural communities .
Take Action : Understanding all causes of lung cancer risks empowers proactive measures . Quitting smoking tobacco , radon testing and mitigation , limiting PM₂ . ₅ exposure , and testing for arsenic are crucial for preserving lung health .
Screening : Over the next five years ( 2024-2029 ), our teams will be studying radon , arsenic and air pollutant exposures in a large population of Canadians . We are doing this to develop tools to measure and quantify the personal risk of lung cancer from these factors - tools that can be used by lung cancer screening programs to determine whether an individual needs to be screened .
THIS WORK IS BEING FUNDED BY :