What’s in the Air? Understanding Wildfire Smoke and Lung Cancer Risk

Checking the air quality has become as much a part of the summer routine as checking the weather. As wildfire activity and smoke exposure have increased in recent years, Canadians are spending more summer days outside under smoky skies. UCalgary researchers are asking the question, what are some of the health risks that come with exposure to wildfire smoke and other environmental pollutants.

Clinicians and researchers specializing in lung cancer are seeing more cases among younger adults, and people who have never smoked, making environmental exposures an increasingly important area of study.

The Canadian Cancer Society reports two in five lung cancer cases in Canada are linked to exposure to radon gas, wildfire smoke and smoke from burning fuels. Yet awareness of these risks remains low, as do the tools available to understand people’s combined exposure and identify those who may benefit from earlier screening.

Dr. Doreen Ezeife, MD, MSc, FRCPC, an oncologist at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and clinical associate professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, is a co-investigator on a national study led by UCalgary researcher, Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, PhD. The researchers will measure levels of non-tobacco-related cancer risks inside homes across Canada, to better understand combined exposure to radon, wildfire smoke and other sources of combustion.

The team will also examine how family genetics and the body’s ability to repair DNA damage may influence an individual’s risk of developing lung cancer from these environmental pollutants. Along the way, the researchers hope to increase public awareness, and help inform policies that can better protect Canadians.

Ultimately, the findings could help improve lung cancer screening guidelines and support earlier diagnosis. They could also strengthen public awareness, promote reliable health information and help guide policy changes to reduce our future exposure to these causes of lung cancer.

Watch the video below as Dr. Ezeife explains why both dose and duration matter when outdoor conditions are smoky, and how the risk associated with wildfire smoke is influenced by how much smoke you are exposed to and for how long.