Types of Cancer > Lung Cancer > Risk Factors

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer

Risk factors are traits may put people at greater risk of developing lung cancer.

Tobacco
Smoking tobacco is the top risk factor for developing lung cancer.

Second hand smoke
Nonsmokers who breathe the tobacco smoke of others, often called secondhand smoke, are at increased risk for lung cancer.

Radon
Exposure to high indoor radon levels can damage lungs and lead to cancer. Radon, which is found in some homes, is an odorless radioactive gas produced naturally by rocks and soil.

Asbestos
Asbestos particles that are inhaled can cause lung damage that lead to lung cancer or mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest and abdominal lining.