ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE EXPOSURE - AN INDEPENDENT RISK FACTOR FOR LUNG CANCER?

The aim of the research was to emphasise association between environmental tobacco exposure and lung cancer. We studied the exposure to environmental (home and workplace) tobacco smoke in a lot of patients diagnosed with lung cancer in Clinical Pneumology Hospital of Constanta using two parameters: duration of the exposure and the total dose exposure at 478 patients confirmed with lung cancer. The frequency of non-smokers patients was 27% (131). Of them, 83% (110) were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke: 31% exclusively domiciliary, 15% with occupational exposure and 52% had been exposed to both types of exposures. Total dose of exposure to passive smoking was calculating multiplying the number of smokers from home or work place and number of years of exposure. The analysis of data reveals the fact that 45% of patients had domiciliary and occupational exposure total dose over 35 smokers/year. We found that the environmental tobacco smoke exposure could be an independent risk factor for lung cancer in never-smokers.