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Most people associate lung cancer with smoking, but the fact that you don鈥檛 smoke doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檙e not at risk for developing it.

While it鈥檚 true that of all lung cancer deaths in the United States are linked to smoking, hidden risks are also contributors. Read on to learn more about these lesser-known risk factors.

1. Radon gas

Radon, a radioactive gas that occurs naturally as uranium, radium and thorium break down in rocks and soil, is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked and is the second-leading cause of all lung cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year are caused by radon.

Odorless and colorless, the gas can collect in poorly ventilated, enclosed spaces. Depending on local geology, radon gas can also dissolve into groundwater. As that groundwater is used, radon can be carried on the air. When , it increases your risk of lung cancer. If you鈥檙e exposed to radon gas and you鈥檙e also a smoker, your risk is significantly higher.

Radon is present in very low levels in the air, but it becomes dangerous when it enters homes or buildings through cracks in floors, walls or foundations, and accumulates. The EPA recommends in your home with an inexpensive detection kit.

鈥淭he highest levels of radon gas are found in homes with basements, which are uncommon in Los Angeles,鈥� says Jorge Nieva, MD, an oncologist with the 喵咪社区 Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of聽喵咪社区. 鈥淚f your home tests positive for unsafe levels of the gas, the usual solution is to improve ventilation in the affected areas, seal cracks in the foundation and walls, and vent the gas outdoors.鈥�

2. Environmental pollution

Outdoor poses the greatest environmental lung cancer risk, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), due to the high number of people exposed to it every day. Diesel engine exhaust, solvents, metals and dust are all components of air pollution. Particulate matter, or very small solid particles and , have been deemed carcinogenic in their own right. These particles can include dust, smoke and chemicals.

Air pollution also plays a role in how people with lung cancer fare 鈥� a recent 喵咪社区-led found that air pollution exposure shortens survival.

To reduce your to environmental pollution, the American Lung Association recommends checking the air quality index forecast for the day, and if pollution levels are high, limiting your outdoor activity. In addition, you shouldn鈥檛 jog, run or bike along highways with heavy traffic, even if the air quality forecast is good.

3. Genetics

play a role in lung cancer, as they do with other types of cancer. If an immediate relative 鈥� a brother, sister or parent 鈥� has had lung cancer, particularly if they were diagnosed when they were young, you may have a slightly higher risk of developing it yourself. But there鈥檚 no clear evidence as to how much of that risk can be attributed to family genes and how much to shared household exposure to cancer-causing compounds, like tobacco smoke. Remember, if there is lung cancer in your family, you鈥檙e not the disease; you鈥檙e inheriting an increased risk of it. Not everyone with a family history will develop lung cancer.

鈥淗ereditary lung cancer is exceedingly rare,鈥� Nieva says, 鈥渂ut if you have two or more close relatives who have had lung cancer, you should discuss genetic testing with your doctor or genetic counselor.鈥�

4. Asbestos

Asbestos is a known carcinogen. Its can be inhaled and lodge deep in the lungs, causing ongoing irritation that can lead to scarring. The material was once popular for insulating homes and buildings, but the EPA began containing asbestos in the 1970s. Asbestos may still be present in older structures, however, so people working in construction or renovating homes should take precautions to avoid exposure. If you know you鈥檝e been in contact with asbestos, assess your level of exposure with your doctor, who may recommend regular lung cancer screenings.

鈥淭he good news is that there are very few new cases of lung cancer caused by asbestos,鈥� Nieva says. 鈥淢ost of the patients we see were exposed before 1980.鈥�

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