President Prabowo Subianto attributed rising lung cancer rates among non-smoking young people to exposure from rust, asbestos, and various chemicals during a speech in Central Java on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Health experts confirm that asbestos is a known carcinogen linked to the disease, but state that scientific evidence does not link rusted zinc to cancer, associating it instead with potential respiratory irritation.
Prabowo’s Roofing Claims and Health Expert Verification
Speaking at the inauguration of the revitalization of Semarang Tawang Station in Semarang, President Prabowo Subianto claimed that young people are developing lung cancer despite not smoking. According to a broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel, he asked the audience where the disease comes from, pointing to rust, asbestos, and various chemicals.
Prabowo urged the public to return to traditional architectural materials like palm fiber, thatch, or clay tiles, noting that zinc was not originally part of Indonesian architecture. Tempo consulted health experts and reviewed medical data to verify these claims, finding that while asbestos exposure is a recognized lung cancer risk, rusted zinc is not linked to the disease.
Asbestos Risks and Global Lung Cancer Data
A World Health Organization report issued in April 2026 identified lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, recording an estimated 2.5 million new cases globally and approximately 1.8 million deaths in 2022. The WHO lists asbestos exposure among the causes of lung cancer alongside secondhand smoke, air pollution, and genetics. In Indonesia, the Health Ministry recorded about 34,000 new lung cancer cases in 2023, with an 88 percent mortality rate.
Wiwin Is Effendi, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine at Airlangga University in Surabaya, stated via WhatsApp on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, that long-term exposure to asbestos fibers causes thickening of the mesothelium, the membrane surrounding the lungs. This risk is especially high for automotive and construction workers. Wiwin explained that building materials containing asbestos become dangerous when cracked or damaged, though they remain relatively safe in good condition.
Oncological surgeon Asdi Wihandono from Airlangga University’s Faculty of Medicine noted via WhatsApp on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, that the WHO classifies asbestos as a Group 1 carcinogen. Asdi added that exposure can also increase risks for laryngeal, ovarian, and digestive tract cancers. Cancer typically develops following prolonged inflammation, fibrosis or scar tissue formation, and DNA damage, with Asdi noting that increased worker exposure raises lung cancer risk.
Rusted Zinc Effects and Non-Smoker Cancer Factors
Regarding zinc materials, Wiwin stated there is no scientific reference linking rust to lung cancer, noting that rust may only cause respiratory tract irritation. Asdi confirmed there is no evidence that rusted zinc causes cancer through direct contact or surrounding air. Real health risks involving zinc instead affect workers inhaling zinc oxide fumes during welding, which can cause metal fume fever, a temporary fever brought on by irritation.
Addressing the rise of lung cancer among non-smokers, particularly women, Wiwin suggested links to secondhand smoke and asbestos fibers. He cited a study by Nico van Zandwijk in the August 2024 issue of the journal Lung Cancer, which found that combined exposure to asbestos and cigarette smoke multiplies lung cancer risk by 10 to 100 times. Asdi added that rising cancer cases among younger people stem from multiple interacting factors over decades, including unhealthy lifestyles, poor diets, and environmental chemical exposure, rather than a single cause.
Tempo attempted to contact Government Communication Agency Head Muhammad Qodari via WhatsApp for confirmation regarding the president’s statements, but received no response as of Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. Scientific data supports Prabowo’s assertion regarding damaged asbestos, but contradicts the claim that rusted zinc causes cancer.