UF Health Lung Cancer Program: Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors.  Several risk factors make a person more likely to develop lung cancer:

• Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, with nearly 90 percent of lung cancers thought to be a result of smoking.

• Secondhand smoke – breathing in the smoke of others
• Asbestos exposure
• Talcum powder – While no increased risk of lung cancer has been found from the use of cosmetic talcum powder, some studies of talc miners and millers suggest a higher risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases from their exposure to industrial grade talc. Talcum powder is made from talc, a mineral which, in its natural form, may contain asbestos, although, by law, all home-use talcum products (baby, body, and facial powders) have been asbestos-free since 1973.
• Cancer-causing agents in the workplace, including:
  • Radioactive ores such as uranium
  • Arsenic
  • Vinyl chloride
  • Nickel chromates
  • Coal products
  • Mustard gas
  • Chloromethyl ethers
• Radon – a radioactive gas that cannot been seen, tasted, or smelled. It is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium.
• Personal or family history of lung cancer
• Vitamin A deficiency – People who do not get enough vitamin A are at increased risk of lung cancer. Taking too much vitamin A may also increase lung cancer risk.
• Air pollution – In some cities, air pollution may slightly increase the risk of lung cancer.

Source: Adapted from content provided by StayWell Custom Communications (http://ssov3.staywellsolutionsonline.com/). Always consult a physician about specific medical problems.