A regional study to evaluate the impact of coal-fired power plants on Lung cancer Incident Rates

Abstract

Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death worldwide due to its high incidence rate and low survival rate (1). Despite its high mortality, early screening of lung cancer is underemphasized in public campaigns compared to other cancers (2). Many risk factors contribute to lung cancer, with the predominant cause being the inhalation of toxic chemicals which includes tobacco smoke and industrial pollution (3). The combustive process of coal power production releases 84 different compounds that are designated as hazardous air pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (4). These compounds can cause several diseases in both humans and animals, as demonstrated by national-level research studies conducted in Southeast Asia (5). As of 2020 coal-powered power plants contributed to 34% of the overall power generation across Kansas (6). One ton of coal only generates 2,460 kWh of electricity whereas Wyandotte county alone requires 2,300 kWh (7; 8). With that context, our goal was to assess how the coal-fired power plants across the state of Kansas are related to lung cancer incidence in their surrounding area. We found that areas within the immediate vicinity of two coal-power plants had higher incidence rates of lung cancer compared to areas with no coal-power plants. Additionally, modeling lung cancer incidence based on vicinity to plants with covariates revealed a significant relationship between poverty, age, and lung cancer incidence. Individuals living in poverty are predisposed to healthcare-related bankruptcy and cost-associated treatment nonadherence (9). They are also shown to smoke more which is a known risk factor for lung cancer (10). Limiting affordable housing for these individuals to areas containing significant risk factors for lung cancer is irresponsible and potentially exploitative. Further studies on this topic should examine additional socioeconomic and lung cancer risk factors as well.