other Lung Cancer Causes. Several things besides smoking have been shown to be probabilistic causal factors in lung cancer. For example, exposure to asbestos and exposure to radon gas, both of which are found in many homes, can cause lung cancer. Suppose that you meet a person who lives in a home that has a high radon level and insulation that contains asbestos. The person tells you, “I smoke, too, because I figure I’m doomed to lung cancer anyway.” What would you say in response? Explain.