India, June 25 -- While smoking and tobacco use remain the leading causes of lung cancer, recent studies have linked rising air pollution and prolonged exposure to environmental pollutants as significant contributors to the increasing risk of the disease. In an interview with HT lifestyle, Dr Indoo Ammbulkar, director of medical oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Borivali said, "Air pollution alone causes up to 29% of all lung cancer deaths. The decrease in deaths due to indoor pollution has been outpaced by the significant rise in outdoor air pollution." Also read | Lung cancer among non-smokers increases; air pollution could be culprit: Lancet report

Dr Indoo Ammbulkar said, "The answer is yes. Particularly if you spend long hours in traffic...