Objective To explore the impact of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the incidence of lung cancer in Beijing residents in China.
Methods Based on the data of meteorological data, PM2.5 mass concentrations and the incidence of lung cancer, the exposure-response relationships among long-term exposure to PM2.5 and the lung cancer population, adenocarcinoma population, and gender-specific and age-specific populations were established by the nonparametric generalized additive model, and the impact of long-term exposure to PM2.5 on the incidence of lung cancer was assessed.
Results The critical exposure time window was 3 years for the lung cancer population, adenocarcinoma population, females, and populations aged 30-64 and 65-74 years, and was 5 years for males and populations aged ≥ 75 years by the impact of PM2.5. For the total population, the relative risks (RRs) of lung cancer and adenocarcinoma incidence, were 1.23 (95% confidence intervalCI: 1.03-1.46) and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.05-2.08), respectively, with each 10 μg/m3 increase in the 3-year average PM2.5 mass concentrations. For gender-specific populations, the RR of lung cancer incidence due to long-term exposure to PM2.5 was greater in males than in females. For age-specific populations, the RR of lung cancer incidence due to long-term exposure to PM2.5 was greater in populations aged ≥ 75 years. However, differences between different gender and age stratifications were not statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion Long-term exposure to PM2.5 significantly increases the risk of lung cancer incidence in Beijing residents especially in males and the elderly (≥ 75 years).