“Emphysema in nonsmokers: alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and other causes.
Lee P, Gildea TR, Stoller JK.
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
Abstract
Nonsmokers with signs of emphysema at an earlier age than is typical for emphysema deserve a workup for one of the less common causes of emphysema, which include alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, connective tissue diseases, hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome, intravenous drug use, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and several rare metabolic disorders.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12546267
You won’t be able to get the entire article. But the abstract makes it clear.
I never said it didn’t happen in non-smokers.
The incidence is much higher in smokers.
Have at it if you wish.
I’ll pass and breathe.