While lung cancer is often thought of as a smoker’s disease, smoking is not its only cause. There are a number of risks that may cause lung cancer, among those being age, smoking, and exposure to asbestos, radon or chemical agents such as Agent Orange or depleted uranium (DU).

Age – The likelihood of developing lung cancer increases with age. Few people under the age of 40 are diagnosed. In fact, most lung cancer diagnoses occur in people who are 45 or older, with a large number of those being 65 or older. Asbestos-related cancers have a long latency period, so most people aren’t diagnosed until 20 to 40 or more years after exposure.

Smoking - Smoking is the most obvious risk of lung cancer. In short, the more cigarettes a person smokes, the more likely their chance is to develop lung cancer. Long-time smokers who stop smoking, however, can reduce their chance of developing the disease. Some non-smokers can even develop the disease through second-hand exposure.

Asbestos Exposure – Workers involved in manufacturing, milling, mining or the installation and handling of asbestos products over long periods of time have the greatest risk of developing asbestos-related lung cancers. U.S. military personnel and shipyard workers, especially those who served in the Navy during World War II, are also at risk because of a high rate of exposure while they constructed battleships.

People who have been exposed to asbestos are also at high risk of developing asbestosis, a chronic condition that causes restricted breathing due to benign plaque scarring of the lungs. Having asbestosis, however, increases one’s chance of developing lung cancer.

Chemicals and Gases – After smoking, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Radon is a clear, odorless, naturally-occurring gas that is in rocks and soil. Many people who develop lung cancer from radon were exposed to it in their homes. Each year, more than 20,000 people die of radon-related lung cancer.

Chemicals such as depleted uranium and Agent Orange also cause lung cancer, but these cases tend to be rare and are usually limited to people who served in the U.S. military. Agent Orange is an herbicide that was used in Vietnam to kill vegetation and expose the enemy. Soldiers in the Persian Gulf War were exposed to depleted uranium by coming into contact with it in tanks and vehicles, or by coming into contact with vehicles or bunkers that were hit by depleted uranium munitions.