Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke may increase the risk of death in lung cancer patients, particularly among non-smokers. However, certain cancer treatments may help mitigate this impact, according to a large California study presented at a major medical meeting on May 31.
The study analysed outcomes of over 18,000 people with non-small cell lung cancer – the most common kind – between 2017 and 2020. Those living in neighbourhoods with the highest levels of wildfire-caused air pollution in year after their diagnosis were more likely to die from the disease.
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Smoke Exposure Worsens Survival
Patients who inhaled higher levels of tiny particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less that can penetrate deeply into the lungs had a 20% greater risk of dying from lung cancer, researchers reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, according to Reuters.
The effect was more pronounced in people with advanced stage 4 cancer who had never smoked. Their risk of dying from cancer was 55% higher if they were exposed to high levels of wildfire air pollution.
However, the researchers found that wildfire smoke exposure did not significantly affect the survival of stage 4 lung cancer patients with a history of smoking who had been treated with an immunotherapy drug, reported Reuters.
“This surprising trend suggests that smoke-related changes in the body may interact with certain treatments,” and more study of this phenomenon is warranted, the researchers said.
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Toxicity and Broader Risks
A report by Stanford University stated that wildfire smoke is approximately ten times more toxic than regular air pollution from fossil fuels. It is primarily composed of PM2.5, which, according to a Nature study, can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and affect nearly every organ – particularly harming vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, a study published in the journal National Library of Medicine added that reducing ambient pollution could improve outcomes, with findings showing up to 57% higher mortality risk in lung cancer patients exposed to elevated PM2.5—underscoring how environmental interventions can boost both health and sustainability.
