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Non-smokers face a high risk of getting lung cancer due to various conditions and circumstances. Out of 170,000 Americans who have lung cancer, 10 percent are non-smokers.

Why do people who have not smoked a single cigarette in their life still get lung cancer? There are many factors at play, which explain how non-smokers may eventually get lung cancer.

The primary exposure that contributes to non-smokers having lung cancer is inhaling second hand smoke. Non-smokers who live or work with people who smoke have 24 percent risk of developing the disease as compared to other non-smokers. This risk accounts for 3,000 deaths each year as reported by MedicineNet.

Genetic predisposition may also be at play, allowing a particular mutation to activate a gene responsible for the growth of cells. This continuous activation is also responsible for the rapid growth of cancer cells. However, a study is able to identify this particular gene and consequently allowed medical researchers to develop a program called targeted therapy using drugs that specifically target the said gene according to the American Cancer Society.

Non-smokers are also facing exposures to potentially cancer-causing agents. The World Health Organization published a study in 2013 indicating that air pollution is at dangerous levels. Outdoor air carries toxins from vehicles, factories and other activities associated with rapid industrialization.

Radon gas exposure may also contribute for 1 out of 15 American homes has been found to have dangerous levels of the gas. Radon is found in soil with natural uranium deposits and the gas can leak through soil, entering homes. Radon is hard to detect because it is invisible and odorless, but the United States Environmental Protection Agency has published a guide on testing and an advisory on what to do when faced with radon gas exposure.

In the past, many Americans were inadvertently exposed to asbestos, which was used as insulation material. Microscopic fibers of asbestos get released into the air and inhaled by people. These fibers can persist in the lung and may possibly lead to lung cancer. However, asbestos is banned in the United States.