SberHealth oncologist Suna Isakova has warned of lesser known triggers for lung cancer in Russia, where the disease ranks as the third most common malignant tumor.
Speaking to online news outlet Lenta.ru on August 12, 2026, Isakova emphasized that while tobacco smoking remains the primary cause of lung malignancies, non-tobacco environmental hazards and chronic medical conditions also play a critical role in disease development.
Smoking is associated with approximately 80 per cent of all recorded lung cancer cases in Russia, according to Isakova. She noted that the elevated risk category includes individuals who smoke conventional cigarettes as well as users of electronic cigarettes.
Conventional cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals that harm lung tissue and damage cellular DNA over time. Electronic cigarettes deliver nicotine through vaporized liquid, exposing respiratory tissue to fine chemical aerosols that provoke ongoing inflammation and cell injury.
Industrial Dust Hazards
Among the less obvious triggers of lung cancer, Isakova identified the regular inhalation of industrial dust containing asbestos, chromium, or cadmium. Such hazardous occupational exposures occur frequently in heavy industrial environments, including metallurgical plants and construction material manufacturing facilities.
The doctor warned that these industrial substances act as extremely dangerous carcinogens. When workers inhale microscopic dust particles over extended periods, the fibers and heavy metal compounds settle deep within pulmonary tissues, causing persistent cellular mutations and malignant growth.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral once widely used in building insulation and roofing for its heat resistance, though inhaled asbestos fibers cause severe lung scarring and mesothelioma. Chromium and cadmium are toxic metals used in electroplating, alloy production, and industrial pigments, both classified internationally as high-risk human carcinogens.
Chronic Respiratory Conditions
Isakova added that pre-existing chronic lung diseases can also serve as major predisposing factors for malignancy. Specific conditions that heighten this vulnerability include emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as COPD.
A prolonged inflammatory process within the respiratory tract can create favorable conditions for the transformation of tumor cells, according to the oncologist.
COPD is a progressive respiratory condition characterized by long-term airflow obstruction and ongoing airway inflammation, while emphysema involves the destruction of alveoli, the tiny air sacs responsible for oxygen absorption. Persistent inflammation in damaged lung tissues impairs normal healing and increases cellular susceptibility to genetic mutations.
Melanoma Screening Guidance
The lung cancer warning follows earlier public health advice provided by Isakova regarding early tumor detection. In previous guidance, the doctor explained how individuals can independently distinguish an ordinary skin mole from dangerous melanoma by monitoring five key warning signs.
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that develops in pigment-producing melanocytes, typically screened by checking moles for asymmetry, irregular borders, uneven color, expanding diameter, and structural changes over time.
