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The Japanese smoke more, but see less lung cancer. If we can figure out why, it might cast light on the covid19 pandemic.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-japanese-lung-cancer-smok...

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Maybe check how many smokes they usually do. I know some people in western countries will smoke a pack a day.

I imagine they've already eliminated the really obvious explanations of that sort.

IIRC, genetics and a high consumption of seafood, especially shell fish and other things high in iodine, seem to be likely factors.

If you tolerate seafood well, that's potentially of interest. People could look into studies relevant to that angle.

If iodine is the reason, probably from seaweed rather than shellfish.

In western countries, a pack a day used to be considered moderate. Some people still smoke a ton more than that, chainsmoking every hour they're awake, but it's not as common as it used to be.

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