Healthy young non-smokers with better diets show higher lung cancer rates, raising pesticide concerns
A study from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center finds a counter-intuitive link between healthier diets and higher lung cancer rates in young non-smokers under 50. Researchers suspect pesticide exposure on commercially grown produce is the cause, not the food itself. The findings come as lung cancer cases rise in this demographic, particularly women, and will be followed by research to directly measure pesticide levels in patients.
Study findings on healthy diets
▪Study participants consumed an average of 3.9 daily servings of whole grains, compared to the U.S. average of 2.6 servings.
▪Study participants consumed an average of 4.3 daily servings of dark green vegetables and legumes, compared to the U.S. average of 3.6 servings.
▪Young non-smoking lung cancer patients in the study had an average Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score of 65, compared to the national average of 57.
▪A study from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests young non-smokers under 50 with healthier-than-average diets may have a higher lung cancer risk.
Pesticide exposure hypothesis
▪Previous research has shown that agricultural workers with long-term pesticide exposure have higher rates of lung cancer.
▪Researchers hypothesize that pesticide exposure on commercially grown produce, not the food itself, may explain the increased lung cancer risk.
▪Commercially grown fruits, vegetables, and whole grains generally contain higher levels of pesticide residues than dairy, meat, and processed foods.
Rising cases in young non-smokers
▪A 2021 study found that lung cancers diagnosed in people younger than 40 represent distinct subtypes compared to those in older adults.
▪Women under 50 who have never smoked now develop lung cancer more often than men in the same demographic.
▪The average age for a lung cancer diagnosis is 71, and the disease is traditionally associated with older adults, smokers, and men.
▪Lung cancer has become more common among non-smokers age 50 and younger, a group that has not followed the overall decline in cases.
Research methodology
▪Most study participants had never smoked and were diagnosed with a form of lung cancer biologically different from tobacco-related types.
▪The study, part of the Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer Project, analyzed 187 people diagnosed with lung cancer by age 50.
▪Researchers estimated pesticide exposure using published data on average residues in food categories, rather than direct measurement.
Future research directions
▪The lead investigator stated the proposed connection between pesticide exposure and lung cancer remains unproven and requires more investigation.
▪The next phase of the research will involve directly measuring pesticide levels in patients' blood or urine samples.
▪Future research aims to identify if specific pesticides are more strongly associated with lung cancer risk.
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