Summary
Scientists discover how air pollution triggers lung cancer in non-smokers, identifying a pathway where tiny PM2.5 particles “wake up” dormant cancer cells, leading to new prevention and treatment opportunities.
Scientists have made a big discovery about how air pollution can cause lung cancer in people who don’t smoke. They found a specific pathway that shows how tiny particles in the air can trigger lung cells to become cancerous.
These particles, called PM2.5, are really small – about 30 times smaller than a human hair. They come from things like car exhaust, factory smoke, and wildfires. When we breathe them in, they can cause inflammation in our lungs.
The researchers found that when lungs with certain genetic changes are exposed to these particles, the inflammation can “wake up” sleeping cancer cells and make them grow. This is different from how we usually think about cancer-causing things. Instead of directly damaging DNA, the pollution particles are like an alarm clock for cancer cells that are already there but not active.
This discovery is important because it could lead to new ways to prevent and treat lung cancer. For example, doctors might be able to use medicine to stop the inflammation caused by air pollution. The researchers also think that reducing air pollution could be the best way to prevent lung cancer.
The World Health Organization says that almost everyone on Earth breathes air with unsafe levels of these particles. That’s why scientists are calling for stricter laws to control air pollution. They say it’s not just about lung cancer – air pollution can cause many other health problems too.
This study helps us understand better how air pollution affects our health and why it’s so important to clean up our air. By understanding the pathway from air pollution to lung cancer, we can work towards finding new ways to prevent and treat this disease.
