STUDY: Oxygen in the air we breathe may trigger lung cancer

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Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 4:09 PM - A new study by a team of U.S.-based scientists suggests that oxygen in the air we breathe may play a significant role in triggering lung cancer.

While smoking has been linked to up to 90% of all lung cancer cases, the new study suggests that oxygen found in our atmosphere may be another cause.

Researchers report lower rates of lung cancer at higher elevations, where oxygen is less abundant. The finding wasn't applicable to non-respiratory cancers, leading scientists to conclude the exposure to carcinogens occurs through inhalation.

The team compared cancer incidence rates of communities found at different elevations across the western U.S.

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"The effect was dramatic with incidence decreasing by 7.23 cases per 100,000 individuals for every 1,000 meter ... rise in elevation, equating to approximately 13% of the mean lung cancer incidence of 56.8 cases per 100,000 individuals," the scientists write in a press release.

While the study has identified a possible correlation, researchers are quick to point out that the findings don't prove that oxygen can cause lung cancer.

"The study looked at groups of people rather than individuals and many variables in addition to oxygen levels are correlated with elevation," the press release reads.

The authors of the study don't recommend relocating to higher elevations based on their findings. 

The complete study can be found in PeerJ.

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