Yonsei Med J.  2017 Nov;58(6):1111-1118. 10.3349/ymj.2017.58.6.1111.

Lung Cancer Risk and Residential Exposure to Air Pollution: A Korean Population-Based Case-Control Study

• Lamichhane DK
• Kim HC
• Choi CM
• Shin MH
• Shim YM
• Leem JH
• Ryu JS
• Nam HS
• Park SM

• KMID: 2418892
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2017.58.6.1111

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and lung cancer incidence in Koreans.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a population-based case-control study covering 908 lung cancer patients and 908 controls selected from a random sample of people within each Korean province and matched according to age, sex, and smoking status. We developed land-use regression models to estimate annual residential exposure to particulate matter (PM₁₀) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) over a 20-year exposure period. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS
Increases in lung cancer incidence (expressed as adjusted OR) were 1.09 (95% CI: 0.96−1.23) with a ten-unit increase in PM₁₀ (µg/m³) and 1.10 (95% CI: 1.00−1.22) with a ten-unit increase in NOâ‚‚ (ppb). Tendencies for stronger associations between air pollution and lung cancer incidence were noted among never smokers, among those with low fruit consumption, and among those with a higher education level. Air pollution was more strongly associated with squamous cell and small cell carcinomas than with adenocarcinoma of the lung.
CONCLUSION
This study provides evidence that PM₁₀ and NO₂ contribute to lung cancer incidence in Korea.

Keyword

Air pollution; lung cancer; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma/*epidemiology/ethnology
Adult
Aged
Air Pollution/*adverse effects
Case-Control Studies
*Environmental Exposure
Female
Humans
Incidence
Logistic Models
Lung Neoplasms/*epidemiology/ethnology
Male
Middle Aged
Nitrogen Dioxide/*adverse effects
Particulate Matter/*adverse effects
Population Surveillance
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Residence Characteristics/*statistics & numerical data
Particulate Matter
Nitrogen Dioxide

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