TITLE:
PM2.5 Pollution and Risk for Lung Cancer: A Rising Issue in China
AUTHORS:
David Hu, Juyuan Jiang
KEYWORDS:
PM2.5, Smog, Lung Cancer
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.5 No.8,
June
16,
2014
ABSTRACT: This
study is focused on the linkage between lung cancer incidence rates and PM2.5 pollution. Researches conducted by leading research organizations in U.S. and
Europe were reviewed and analyzed, and strong evidence exists that elevated
fine particulate air pollution exposures are associated with significant
increases in lung cancer mortality. The linkage between fine particulate air
pollution and lung cancer motility is observed even after controlling for
cigarette smoking, occupational exposure, and other risk factors. This finding
is in alignment with observations in China which show an upward trend of lung
cancer incidences coupled with a downward trend in the number of smokers.
Currently, China lacks systematic research on the effect of PM2.5 on
lung cancer. As a result, this paper investigated studies on the linkage
between pollution and lung cancer incidence from decades of research conducted
in the U.S. and Europe. One important step in solving this issue in China is
through classifying PM2.5 pollution as a human cacinogen. Adequate
government regulation, public awareness, regional collaboration and industrial
compliance are also key to the successful control of PM2.5 pollution
and smog.