Ambient PM2.5 and Annual Lung Cancer Incidence: A Nationwide Study in 295 Chinese Counties

Abstract

Most studies have examined PM2.5 effects on lung cancer mortalities, while few nationwide studies have been conducted in developing countries to estimate the effects of PM2.5 on lung cancer incidences. To fill this gap, this work aims to examine the effects of PM2.5 exposure on annual incidence rates of lung cancer for males and females in China. We performed a nationwide analysis in 295 counties (districts) from 2006 to 2014. Two regression models were employed to analyse data controlling for time, location and socioeconomic characteristics. We also examined whether the estimates of PM2.5 effects are sensitive to the adjustment of health and behaviour covariates, and the issue of the changing cancer registries each year. We further investigated the modification effects of region, temperature and precipitation. Generally, we found significantly positive associations between PM2.5 and incidence rates of lung cancer for males and females. If concurrent PM2.5 changes by 10 μg/m3, then the incidence rate relative to its baseline significantly changes by 4.20% (95% CI: 2.73%, 5.88%) and 2.48% (95% CI: 1.24%, 4.14%) for males and females, respectively. The effects of exposure to PM2.5 were still significant when further controlling for health and behaviour factors or using 5 year consecutive data from 91 counties. We found the evidence of long-term lag effects of PM2.5. We also found that temperature appeared to positively modify the effects of PM2.5 on the incidence rates of lung cancer for males. In conclusion, there were significantly adverse effects of PM2.5 on the incidence rates of lung cancer for both males and females in China. The estimated effect sizes might be considerably lower than those reported in developed countries. There were long-term lag effects of PM2.5 on lung cancer incidence in China.

The Inducible Role of Ambient Particulate Matter in Cancer Progression via Oxidative Stress-Mediated Reactive Oxygen Species Pathways: A Recent Perception

“…It firstly might be due to the high proportion of less toxic crustal materials and dust in PM2.5 compositions in China. Furthermore, the proportion of elderly, who are more vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure, in China is still significantly lower than that in other developed countries [27]. Taken together, existing findings have demonstrated a positive association between PM2.5 and the incidence of lung cancer, even at low-level concentrations.…”

“…Then, it was demonstrated that for an increment of 10 µg/m 3 PM2.5, the incidence rates of lung cancer change by 3.57% and 2.71% compared to the mean values for males and females, respectively [27]. Previously, a prospective analysis of 89,234 Canadian women who participated between 1980 and 1985 to determine the incidence of lung cancer through 2004 was conducted [28].…”

“…However, the lag effects of PM2.5 on the risk of lung cancer have been largely overlooked. Limited literature suggested the long-term lag effects of PM2.5 on lung cancer incidence, subsequently highlighting the possibility that the incidence of lung cancer is correlated with both current and previous exposure to PM2.5 [27].…”

“…In this study, the mean incidence rates of lung cancer for males and females were 50.38 and 22.16 per 100,000 people, respectively, whereas the annual mean PM2.5 value was 43.02 μg/m 3 . Then, it was demonstrated that for an increment of 10 μg/m 3 PM2.5, the incidence rates of lung cancer change by 3.57% and 2.71% compared to the mean values for males and females, respectively [ 27 ]. Previously, a prospective analysis of 89,234 Canadian women who participated between 1980 and 1985 to determine the incidence of lung cancer through 2004 was conducted [ 28 ].…”

REDD1 (regulated in development and DNA damage-1)/autophagy inhibition ameliorates fine particulate matter (PM2.5) -induced inflammation and apoptosis in BEAS-2B cells

“…Fine particulate matter refers to particulate matter with aerodynamic equivalent diameter of 2.5 microns or less in ambient air, which is also known as PM2. 5. Substantial studies have proven the involvement of long-term PM2.5 inhalation in the occurrence of lung cancer [4].…”