Associations between ambient air pollution and cancer incidence in Taiwan: an ecological study of geographical variations

Abstract

BackgroundAir pollution is a global public health concern. The World Health Organization has recently set up a goal of saving 7 million people globally by 2030 from air pollution related death. We conducted an ecological study of geographical variation to explore the association between air pollution (specifically, particulate matter <2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter [PM2.5], particulate matter <10 μm in aerodynamic diameter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, and ozone) and cancer incidence in Taiwan, from 2012 to 2016.MethodsIn this study, the yearly average concentrations of each air pollutant at 75 air quality monitoring stations were calculated, and using the kriging method, the concentrations were extrapolated to each and every geographical central point of 349 local administrative areas of Taiwan. Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the age-adjusted cancer incidence rates and various air pollutants were calculated by stratifying genders and urbanization degrees of the local administrative areas. A total of 70 correlation coefficients were calculated.ResultsIn total, 17 correlation coefficients were significantly positive at an alpha level of 0.05. Among these, four correlation coefficients between the age-adjusted cancer incidence rates and PM2.5 levels remained significant after Bonferroni correction. For men in developing towns, general towns, and aged towns and for women in aged towns, the age-adjusted cancer incidence rates increased 13.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.8–17.6), 11 (95% CI, 5.6–16.4), 16.7 (95% CI, 6.9–26.4), and 11.9 (95% CI, 5.6–18.2) per 100,000 populations, respectively, for every 1 μg/m3 increment in PM2.5 concentrations.ConclusionsA significantly positive correlation was observed between the PM2.5 level and cancer incidence rate after multiple testing correction.

Association of Urban Liveability with Cancer Incidence in Iran: A Nationwide Ecological Study

“…Researchers have reported direct associations between PM2.5 levels and age-adjusted respiratory cancer incidence rates (30). The increasing lung cancer incidence rates in Iran are occurring along with increasing rates of environmental pollution, urbanization, and smoking (31).…”

The Association between Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Oral Neoplasm among Smokers and Betel Quids Chewers

“…We consider monthly average PM2.5 concentration as a random effect in our model since this exposure indicator is a hierarchical factor rather than an individual one. Last but not least, an ecological study by Su et al presented the geographical variations on the association between PM2.5 and cancer incidence in Taiwan (Su et al 2019). Su et al also reported a significant 273 dose-response relationship between PM2.5 and OC incidence with spearman correlation ranged between 0.56~0.59 in men.…”

Discussion on the Purchase Factors and the User Demands of Electric Scooters from the Perspective of Consumers’ Life Style—A Case Study on Gogoro

“…At present, advanced countries are replacing traditional gasoline scooters with electric scooters that feature "low noise, zero emissions, energy savings, and environmental protection" as an important policy in industrial and environmental development. In Taiwan, scooters are one of the main causes of air pollution [9][10][11][12]. In this regard, the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan works for the EPA of Taiwan, not only continuously encourages manufacturers to produce environmentally friendly vehicles, but also publicizes the relative pollution emissions data of vehicles, and strives to improve urban air quality.…”