Smaller particular matter, larger risk of female lung cancer incidence? Evidence from 436 Chinese counties

Huagui Guo,Jing Wei,Yanji Zhang,Jiansheng Wu,Weifeng Li,Xin Li

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-12622-1

Abstract

BackgroundMany studies have reported the effects of PM2.5 and PM10 on human health, however, it remains unclear whether particular matter with finer particle size has a greater effect.ObjectivesThis work aims to examine the varying associations of the incidence rate of female lung cancer with PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 in 436 Chinese cancer registries between 2014 and 2016.MethodsThe effects of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were estimated through three regression models, respectively. Mode l only included particular matter, while Model 2 and Model 3 further controlled for time and location factors, and socioeconomic covariates, respectively. Moreover, two sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the robustness of three particular matte effects. Then, we examined the modifying role of urban-rural division on the effects of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, respectively.ResultsThe change in the incidence rate of female lung cancer relative to its mean was 5.98% (95% CI: 3.40, 8.56%) for PM1, which was larger than the values of PM2.5 and PM10 at 3.75% (95% CI: 2.33, 5.17%) and 1.57% (95% CI: 0.73, 2.41%), respectively. The effects of three particular matters were not sensitive in the two sensitivity analyses. Moreover, urban-rural division positively modified the associations of the incidence rate of female lung cancer with PM1, PM2.5 and PM10.ConclusionsThe effect on the incidence rate of female lung cancer was greater for PM1, followed by PM2.5 and PM10. There were positive modifying roles of urban-rural division on the effects of three particular matters. The finding supports the argument that finer particular matters are more harmful to human health, and also highlights the great significance to develop guidelines for PM1 control and prevention in Chinese setting.

Highlights

Great health concern has been placed on the severe air pollution in China
The effect on the incidence rate of female lung cancer was greater for PM1, followed by P M2.5 and PM10
The finding supports the argument that finer particular matters are more harmful to human health, and highlights the great significance to develop guidelines for PM1 control and prevention in Chinese setting

Summary

Introduction

Great health concern has been placed on the severe air pollution in China. Particular matters as the dominant air pollutants in Chinese cities (e.g. PM1, PM2.5 and PM10), have already been recognized as the Group IGuo et al BMC Public Health (2022) 22:344Several potential mechanisms have been proposed to explain the varying effects of size-fractioned particular matters. With regards to the difference in health effects, firstly, there is high ratio of surface area to volume in finer than in coarser particular matters. This enables finer particular matter to more approach the deeper places in lung, such as lung alveoli [6, 7]. The proportion of toxic chemical composition is usually higher in finer than in coarser particular matters. Such physicochemical property makes finer particular matter more cause detrimental effects on lung function and epigenetic alteration [8, 9]. Many studies have reported the effects of PM2.5 and PM10 on human health, it remains unclear whether particular matter with finer particle size has a greater effect

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Results

Conclusion