Causes of lung cancer - Essay Example

Smoking, exposure to radon gas, reactive metals and genetic vulnerabilities has come up as the major causes of lung cancer. Research has identified cigarette smoking as the main cause of lung cancer in the world today. Stoppler (Para. 5) identifies that smoking contributes to over 90% of the total lung cancer infection in the world today. The level of smoking among direct smokers is quantized depending on the number of cigarettes they smoke per day and the number of years that one has smoked.

The higher the product of the two, the more is the risk of getting lung cancer. Indirect smokers are those that inhale cigarette smoke within a smoker’s environment and are ultimately subjected to the risk of getting infected with lung cancer. Bhang smokers who smoke cigarette have a higher risk of contracting lung cancer since they have a tendency to take deep puffs exposing their lungs to a more contact with the smoke. Tobacco smoke contains carcinogenic compounds that trigger cancerous cells to grow more rapidly into a tumor.

Research has proved that tobacco contains over 4,000 chemical compounds including nitrosamines and polycyclic hydrocarbons that are cancer causing compounds. The chances of developing cancer increase as the level of smoking increases. . In essence, Radon gas is the second, after smoking, a common cause of Lung cancer in the world today (Stoppler Para. 1-2). When Uranium gas decays spontaneously, it releases many chemical compounds including Radon gas that has exposed many homes to the risk of developing lung cancer.

Although uranium is a rare compound, its emissions can travel over long distances in the soil and can accumulate in the houses to reach toxic levels. The fact that Radon gas is odorless and is colorless, it is hard to detect it or measure its levels. Consequently, most families will be exposed without their knowledge unless experts assess the presence of the gas. When, Radon gas is inhaled, its radio activities are severe enough to trigger abnormal cell growth. In case of long exposure, the illness becomes severe and effective treatment cannot be realized.

The third leading cause of cancer, as the Center of Disease and control (Para. 7) states, is exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos are silica compound fibers that were commonly used in work environments for thermal insulation and acoustically treated rooms. For instance, most music studios have asbestos linings to protect them from external sound mechanisms. The employees in such studios are highly exposed to the risk of developing lung cancer during their life time. When an individual inhales asbestos fibers, they attach to the lining of their lungs and can persist in this position for a long time.

The fibers have carcinogenic compounds that affect the normal cell growth in the lugs eventually leading to cancer of the lungs. Research has it that cigarette smokers who are exposed to asbestos have the highest chances of developing complications. About 50% and 90% of all the smokers who