Abstract
BackgroundFew population-based epidemiological studies of adults have examined the relationship between air pollution and leukaemias.MethodsUsing Danish National Cancer Registry data and Danish DEHM-UBM-AirGIS system-modelled air pollution exposures, we examined whether particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) averaged over 1, 5 or 10 years were associated with adult leukaemia in general or by subtype. In all, 14,986 adult cases diagnosed 1989–2014 and 51,624 age, sex and time-matched controls were included. Separate conditional logistic regression models, adjusted for socio-demographic factors, assessed exposure to each pollutant with leukaemias.ResultsFully adjusted models showed a higher risk of leukaemia with higher 1-, 5- and 10-year-average exposures to PM2.5 prior to diagnosis (e.g. OR per 10 µg/m3 for 10-year average: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.32), and a positive relationship with 1-year average BC. Results were driven by participants 70 years and older (OR per 10 µg/m3 for 10-year average: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.15–1.58). Null findings for younger participants. Higher 1-year average PM2.5 exposures were associated with higher risks for acute myeloid and chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia.ConclusionAmong older adults, higher risk for leukaemia was associated with higher residential PM2.5 concentrations averaged over 1, 5 and 10 years prior to diagnosis.
Highlights
Few population-based epidemiological studies of adults have examined the relationship between air pollution and leukaemias
Excluding non-residents of Denmark at index date (13 cases and 4522 controls); individuals with
In models stratified by subtype of leukaemia, estimates of similar size to those found for all incident leukaemias were found for incident chronic lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukaemia with PM2.5 exposures averaged over 5 and 10 years prior to diagnosis
Summary
Few population-based epidemiological studies of adults have examined the relationship between air pollution and leukaemias. Higher 1-year average PM2.5 exposures were associated with higher risks for acute myeloid and chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia. CONCLUSION: Among older adults, higher risk for leukaemia was associated with higher residential PM2.5 concentrations averaged over 1, 5 and 10 years prior to diagnosis. Leukaemia was the 13th most common diagnosed cancer worldwide in 2018.1 The age-standardised incidence rate per 100,000 persons per year for Denmark from 2012 to 2016 was 10.7 for males and 7.2 for females. These rates have remained fairly stable over the past 10 years.[2–4]. Workers exposed to benzene have shown higher leukaemia incidence.[5,6] Higher rates of leukaemia have been observed among Japanese atomic bomb survivors and Ukrainian Chernobyl clean-up workers.[7,8] Studies of agricultural workers and pesticide applicators have shown elevated risks among certain subpopulations.[9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
