In the ongoing battle against cancer, researchers have identified an innovative detection method: analyzing toenails.
A study from the University of San Diego demonstrates that toenails serve as an effective biomarker for assessing lung cancer risk.
Nicotine Levels
American scientists measured nicotine concentrations in the toenails of 850 men, both smokers and non-smokers. The research team tracked these participants over 12 years to monitor lung cancer development.
The results? Men with the highest toenail nicotine levels faced a 3.5 times greater risk of lung cancer compared to those with the lowest levels.
Passive Smokers
Toenails were chosen because they grow very slowly—about 1 centimeter per year—offering a window into long-term exposure to cigarette smoke. This insight applies to both active smokers and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. Notably, 10% of self-reported non-smokers showed elevated nicotine levels in their toenails, despite never having smoked themselves, likely due to regular passive exposure.
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This study focused solely on men; further research is needed to determine if these findings extend to women.
