With wildfire season upon us, many British Columbians are concerned about how poor air quality and unhealthy levels of smoke may affect their health.

While commercial tobacco use is still the leading cause of lung cancer, 30% of lung cancer cases in B.C. are in people who don’t smoke due to other factors including air pollution.

BC Cancer research shows that long-time exposure to a fine particular matter (PM2.5) found in wildfire smoke increases the risk of lung cancer.

In 2010, BC Cancer discovered that lung cancer in people who don’t smoke is a completely different disease. Fuelled by BC Cancer Foundation investment in BC Cancer’s Breathomics Lab, this breakthrough is prompting the development of an AI-powered breath test that detects lung cancer in non-smokers early when it’s more treatable.

BC Cancer scientists are also breaking ground in identifying high-risk populations such as Asian women who are more susceptible to air-pollution related lung cancer.

Here’s how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke and reduce your risk of cancer.

• Check B.C.’s Air Quality Index or sign up to receive email or text messages when an Air Quality Warning has been issued for your area.
• Stay at home or seek out public spaces such as community centres, libraries or shopping malls which tend to have cleaner, cooler, indoor air.
• Take precautions to ensure the air inside your home is as smoke-free as possible, such as shutting all the windows and running an air purifier.
• Refrain from excessive outdoor exercise on smoky days because the harder you breathe, the more PM2.5 air particles you inhale.
• If you have to be outside on smoky days, wear a well-fitted respirator, such as an N95 mask, to help filter the air you breathe in. Regular masks may not provide enough protection against the fine particles in wildfire smoke.

Innovative Early Lung Cancer Detection is Saving Lives - Read more at - Innovative Early Lung Cancer Detection is Saving Lives - BC Cancer Foundation