Long-term Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in a Large Cohort of Never-Smokers
This large prospective study showed positive associations
between mean long-term ambient fine particulate matter air pollution
concentrations
and lung cancer mortality in lifelong never-smokers. Each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentrations was associated with a 15–27% increase in the relative risk of lung cancer death after detailed adjustment for a number of potential confounders including passive smoking, occupational exposures, and radon. The association was similar in men and women and across categories of attained age and educational attainment but was stronger in those with a normal BMI or a history of asthma or any CLD at enrollment. Findings were robust to the adjustment of a variety of sociodemographic ecologic covariates at different time points in the model.