Long-term PM 2.5 exposure a greater cancer risk than smoking: study
Long-term PM 2.5 exposure a greater cancer risk than smoking: study
2024-05-06
A new study finds that air pollution can be worse for you than smoking. Researchers at National Taiwan University found that long-term exposure to PM 2.5 drastically raises the risk of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer. In fact, people with 30 years of exposure are 1.044 times more likely to develop the cancer than heavy smokers are. The study has been published in an international journal. Scholars urge the government to take air pollution seriously, by enhancing public health education and cancer screening in the southern half of the island.
According to a new study from National Taiwan University, people with 30 years of exposure to PM 2.5 are 1.044 times more likely to get lung cancer than people who smoke a pack a day.
Vincent Su
Taipei City Hospital thoracic surgeon
The study looked at the north and the south, where air pollution is more severe. It found that in the south, the rate of increase in lung cancer, in lung adenocarcinoma, was over 10 times higher than the rate in the north. All signs indicate that air pollution is a greater risk factor for lung cancer than cigarette smoking.
The study, conducted by NTU’s Department of Public Health, looked at 143,000 lung cancer patients and their PM 2.5 exposure in the 30 years before diagnosis. It found average concentrations ranging from 8 to 46 micrograms per cubic meter. For every 10 microgram increase, the cancer risk also increased. Government statistics corroborate the finding: In 2020, Penghu had the highest incidence of lung, bronchial, and tracheal cancers, at 66.89 cases per 100,000 people. High up on the list were other areas with heavy pollution, which ranged from 42 to 44 cases. Then came Hsinchu City with 41.68 and Yilan with 41.28, followed by Keelung, Taichung, and Taipei.
Chen Chieh-yu
Cathay General Hospital cardiologist
In recent years, due to the increase in air pollution and issues arising from new homes, such as formaldehyde, there has been an increase in indoor levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10. This has raised the risk of lung cancer and some cardiovascular diseases.
In 2022, PM 2.5 levels were highest in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, followed by Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan, which averaged 17.1 micrograms per cubic meter. Central Taiwan came third with 13.8, and fourth was Hsinchu and Miaoli, with 11.1. The north recorded 10.1. NTU’s Department of Public Health said that due to heavy pollution in the lower half of the island, the government should ramp up public health education and lung cancer screenings. Researchers say that, whether PM 2.5 is from car exhaust or industrial activity, its health effects must be taken seriously.
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連續暴露PM2.5環境30年 罹肺腺癌風險高於吸菸
2024-05-06
台大公衛最新研究，連續30年暴露在PM2.5環境中，罹患肺腺癌的風險竟高出癮君子1.044倍，尤其以雲嘉南縣市最為嚴重，研究登上國際期刊，醫師也證實抽菸罹癌的人確實增加，學者也點出台中以南空污嚴重，應加強衛教及篩檢。
台大最新研究發現，持續30年暴露於PM2.5空汙，罹肺腺癌風險竟大於每天抽一包菸的癮君子1.044倍。
[[北市聯醫胸腔內科醫師 蘇一峰]]
“研究發現在南部空污比較嚴重跟北部一比呢，南部的肺癌、肺腺癌的增加速率是北部的十幾倍。種種的跡象都顯示呢，似乎我們空氣汙染，對我們的國人造成肺腺癌，似乎比抽菸還要重要啦”
這篇調查14.3萬名患者的台大公衛研究，調出罹癌前30年居住環境的PM2.5濃度，平均值只有8-46微克，每上升10微克則罹癌機率也隨之升高，再調出2020年肺癌支氣管癌和氣管癌的每10萬人發生率，以澎湖66.89人最高，但空污嚴重的肺癌風險高都榜上有名，分別都有42到43.多人，接著是新竹市41.68人和宜蘭縣41.28人，基隆台中和台北市也緊追在後。
[[[國泰醫院心血管中心醫師 陳玠宇]]
“近年來就是因為空氣汙染物的關係，再加上可能最近大家有買房子，甲醛的那些問題，可能會導致室內的PM2.5跟PM10的含量會增加，這無形當中可能會增加，罹患肺癌以及一些心血管疾病的高風險”
攤開2022年的PM2.5濃部平均值，雲嘉南來到17.1，中部13.8，竹苗11.1，北部也有10.1，台大公衛教授詹長權指出，台中以南空汙嚴重，應提高衛教宣導，並加強肺癌公費篩檢，不管空污是來自汽機車還是工廠廢氣，都呼籲政府重視PM2.5造成的健康問題。
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