LUNG CANCER TRENDS AMONG NEVER-SMOKERS OVER PAST 10 YEARS, ASSESSMENT OF LONG-TERM PM2.5 AND HAZE EXPOSURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA COLLECTION BY SINGAPORE CANCER REGISTRY

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1399

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 7 OCTOBER 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Cai Yinzhou

MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Question No. 2204

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what is the trend in lung cancer incidence among never smokers in Singapore over the past 10 years; (b) whether the Ministry has assessed the contribution of long-term PM2.5 exposure, including from transboundary haze, to such incidence; and (c) whether the Singapore Cancer Registry will collect environmental exposure data such as residential air quality to support such assessment.

Answer

1               A 2026 modelling study based on local data indicates an increasing  lung cancer incidence in never smokers in both males and females. Based on international studies, PM2.5 is associated with a higher risk of lung cancer.  That said, this is often after  long term exposure, and the effect of our periodic  haze exposure will only be known much later when studies are done to correlate environment factors and disease prevalence. 

2               Environmental exposure is multifactorial, and may be influenced by the mitigating measures taken by an individual and time spent in environments beyond the individual’s residence.  Smoking remains the top risk factor for lung cancer.  Overall cancer risk can also be reduced, such as by smoking cessation, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy diet.