Final answer:
Brianne Carter's lung cancer is most likely caused by her exposure to radiation during nuclear testing in Nevada, which is supported by studies linking radiation exposure to various cancers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The likely cause of Brianne Carter's lung cancer, given that she was an employee of the U.S. Department of Energy and was exposed to radiation as a result of nuclear testing in Nevada, is exposure to radiation. Research has shown a link between radiation exposure and lung cancer among workers exposed to external whole-body gamma-radiation. Long-term exposure to radiation, including cosmic rays, radon gas from uranium in the ground, medical radiation, and other human activities, has been documented to have various health effects, including increased risk of cancer. While smoking and genetic factors are also known causes of lung cancer, Brianne's work-related radiation exposure is the most plausible cause in this scenario.