Exposure to wildfire smoke significantly raises the risk of death in lung cancer patients, particularly among non-smokers with advanced-stage disease, according to a major California study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.
Researchers tracked over 18,000 patients with non-small cell lung cancer from 2017 to 2020 and found that those living in areas with the highest levels of wildfire air pollution had a 20% higher risk of dying. Among non-smoking patients with stage 4 cancer, the risk jumped by 55%.
The study used advanced models to estimate daily air quality at patients’ homes, incorporating satellite data, weather forecasts, and pollution monitors. Interestingly, researchers observed that wildfire smoke exposure did not significantly affect survival rates in stage 4 patients with a smoking history who received immunotherapy, suggesting a possible interaction between pollution-related body changes and treatment.
As wildfires grow more severe across the U.S., the study’s authors stress the urgent need for targeted health strategies to protect vulnerable groups, including cancer patients. Wildfire smoke is considered more toxic than regular air pollution, containing fine particulate matter mixed with chemicals, metals, and synthetic materials.
