Air pollution linked to lung cancer-driving DNA mutations, study finds

Research finds that the higher the levels of air pollution in a region, the more cancer-promoting mutations are present

Air pollution has been linked to a swathe of lung cancer-driving DNA mutations, in a study of people diagnosed with the disease despite never having smoked tobacco.

The findings from an investigation into cancer patients around the world helps explain why those who have never smoked make up a rising proportion of people developing the cancer, a trend the researchers called an “urgent and growing global problem”.