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Original Research | Medicine | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 531 - 535 | India
A Retrospective Observational on Occupational and Environmental Determinants of Lung Cancer Under 50 Years of Age
Abstract: Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although tobacco smoking is the principal risk factor, occupational exposure to carcinogens such as silica, asbestos, and chemical fumes contributes substantially to disease development, particularly in developing countries where workplace safety measures may be inadequate. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic profile, occupational and environmental exposure history, clinical presentation, histopathological subtypes, stage at diagnosis, and clinical outcomes among adults aged less than 50 years with primary lung cancer. The association between occupational exposures, histological subtype, and disease stage was also assessed. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted among 50 patients aged <50 years with histologically confirmed primary lung cancer. Never-smokers and smokers with <30 pack-years were included, while patients with metastatic lung disease, recurrent lung cancer, or ?30 pack-years smoking history were excluded. Data regarding demographic characteristics, occupational and environmental exposures, smoking status, clinical features, radiological findings, histopathology, tumour stage, and clinical outcomes were analysed. Fisher's exact test was used to determine associations between occupational exposure, histological subtype, disease stage, and smoking status. Results: Most patients (56%) belonged to the 40?49-year age group, with males accounting for 60% of the cohort. Smokers comprised 52%, while 48% were never-smokers. Construction and mining workers (30%) formed the largest occupational group. Silica and mineral dusts (28%) and asbestos (24%) were the predominant occupational exposures. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest histological subtype (40%), followed by small cell carcinoma (30%) and squamous cell carcinoma (26%). Overall, 68% of patients presented with stage III disease and 32% with stage IV disease; none had stage I or II disease. No significant association was observed between occupational exposure and histology (p=0.291), stage (p=0.554), occupation and histology (p=0.850), occupation and stage (p=0.333), or occupation and smoking status (p=0.519). Conclusion: Early-onset lung cancer predominantly affected middle-aged adults and included a substantial proportion of never-smokers, highlighting the contribution of occupational and environmental carcinogens. Advanced-stage presentation was universal, emphasizing the need for improved occupational health surveillance, early detection strategies, and larger multicentre studies.
Keywords: Lung cancer, Occupational exposure, Silica, Asbestos, Adenocarcinoma, Young adults, Never-smokers, Advanced stage
How to Cite?: Dr. Pavithra Muruganathan, Dr. Keerthivasan S., Dr. Arunchandar V., Dr. Jayakumar N., Dr. Pudhumalar T., Dr. Vani R., "A Retrospective Observational on Occupational and Environmental Determinants of Lung Cancer Under 50 Years of Age", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 531-535, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26706145331, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26706145331