The information that I found indicates that in 2005, an estimated 172,570 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed, making it the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States and accounting for 13 percent of all cancer diagnoses. About 20% of all lung cancer cases are small cell lung cancer, believed to be a result of smoking, meaning about 30,000 patients each year are diagnosed with this disease. Government surveys show that as many as 3,000 people each year develop lung cancer from second-hand smoke. www.health.allrefer.com/health/primary-lung-cancer-info * WonderDoc: The numbers are difficult to estimate because it is difficult to determine exactly which cases are specific to second-hand smoke. Since the numbers are difficult to estimate and I stated merely what a government survey showed in answer to the question, I don't know why you would have rated this down. I certainly didn't state it as undeniable fact.

Many stats and many manipulations of stats. Read on. Worldwide, 47 percent of men and 12 percent of women smoke a total of 6 trillion cigarettes a year. In the U.S., 600 billion cigarettes are smoked every year." (World Health Organization, 1999). Second-hand smoke increases the risk. Government surveys show that as many as 3,000 people each year develop lung cancer from second-hand smoke. High levels of pollution, radiation, and asbestos exposure may also increase risk. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000122.htm On the March 8, 2006 edition of the CNN American Morning program with Miles O'Brien and Soledad O'Brien, they made a startling announcement. On average there are 175,000 new cases of lung cancer each year in the United States. For just the months of January and February 2006 there are 172,000 confirmed, newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer. This is not just a little spike on the charts and much worse news is coming. That is already averaging this year about 6 times the normal incidence of new lung cancer cases in a year. They tried to attribute it to second hand smoke, but second hand smoke and cigarettes are nothing compared to being exposed to Depleted Uranium ("DU") and particulates created by DU explosions. You can smoke for 30 years and not do the damage that DU can do to you in 30 days. How long does it take to get lung cancer after being exposed to DU and nano-particulates? On average 2-5 years is the correct answer. We started bombing Afghanistan in October 2001 or four and a half years ago. We started bombing Iraq again in March 2003, or just shy of three years ago. The effects of those bombing attacks were registered as far away as the UK according to the Aldermaston Report we and others released February 19, 2006. We do not know yet what was registered in the U.S. because the U.S. government is not saying and they definitely do not want you to know. The link between DU exposure and lung cancer has been known for many years. The correlation between DU and lung cancer versus cigarettes and lung cancer is even stronger for DU. They are making plans right now to bomb Iran, even knowing full well that they will be spreading more nuclear pollution. http://www.rense.com/general69/soar.htm Secondhand smoke "Measurements of the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration at a cigar party and a cigar banquet in a restaurant showed indoor CO levels comparable to those measured on a crowded California freeway." "Some 88% of the non-smoking U.S. population has cotinine (indicator of exposure to tobacco smoke) in their blood." (Pirke et al., 1996). Tobacco smoke is as dangerous to non-smokers as firsthand smoke is to smokers themselves. The EPA has classified tobacco smoke (containing 43 carcinogens) as a Class A carcinogen - a known cause of human cancer. http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/tobacco/problem_tobacco.htm Each year, nearly 20,000 people die from lung cancer that is NOT caused by smoking. A number of experts have linked known carcinogens such as asbestos, benzene, silica dust, fiberglass, and paints and solvents to the disease. As one of the 20 most dangerous known carcinogens in the United States, benzene has been linked to lung cancer and is found in many products worked with and used by people every day. Silica is the planets most naturally occurring mineral, yet its dust is hazardous to humans. Causing silicosis and other diseases when inhaled, silica dust causes rapid damage to the lungs. Ordinary cans of house or spray paint are brimming with potentially toxic chemicals and chemical compounds. Those who work around these products are at an increased risk for cancer. If you have worked as a shipbuilder, pipe fitter, asbestos installer, tile worker, welder, refinery worker, or sander, you may be at risk for developing lung cancer.