Association between long-term exposure to air pollution and the risk of incident laryngeal cancer: a longitudinal UK Biobank-based study

Abstract

We assessed the association between long-term joint exposure to ambient air pollutants and the risk of laryngeal cancer and whether this risk was modified by genetic susceptibility. We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model to analyze data from UK Biobank to determine the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollutants–nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and 2.5-µm and 10-µm particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and the risk of laryngeal cancer. In multivariable-adjusted models, in model 3 and compared with the participants with lower quintile scores for air pollution, the participants with the highest quintile scores for air pollution had a higher laryngeal cancer risk. The observed association was more pronounced among the participants who were female, were smokers, had a systolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 120 mmHg, and had diabetes. Compared with the participants with a low GRS and the lowest quintile score for air pollution exposure, those with an intermediate GRS and the highest quintile score for air pollution exposure had a higher risk of laryngeal cancer. Long-term exposure to NO2, NO, or PM2.5, individually or jointly, was associated with a risk of incident laryngeal cancer, especially in the participants with an intermediate GRS.