ABSTRACT
Oat-cell and anaplastic tumours grow rapidly and most are unresectable from the onset of symptoms. An understanding of how disease processes show up in the lungs is of the greatest importance, since many tumours do not themselves give rise early on to opaque masses and the early signs may be subtle. Air pollution from industry or diesel fumes may have some effect. Aromatic hydrocarbons in some industries - coal-tar, coal-gas, foundries, chimney-sweeps, etc. undoubtedly predispose to lung cancer. The higher lung cancer mortality in the UK and Germany, compared with France and Italy, has by some been ascribed in part to heavy industry, coal-burning and 'smog' during the 40's, 50's and 60'. Radon inhalation may also lead to lung cancer. During recent years the effects of 'passive smoking', particularly on the spouses of heavy smokers has been shown to be not inconsiderable and account for about 1% of cases of lung cancer deaths.
