Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its constituents and risk of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Denmark: A population-based case-control study

Tahir Taj; Aslak Harbo Poulsen; Matthias Ketzel; Camilla Geels; Jørgen Brandt; Jesper Heile Christensen; Robin Puett; Ulla Arthur Hvidtfeldt; Mette Sørensen; Ole Raaschou-Nielsen

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109762

Long-term exposure to PM_2.5 and its constituents and risk of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Denmark: A population-based case-control study

Environ Res. 2020 Sep:188:109762. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109762. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: tahir@cancer.dk.
² Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
³ Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Surrey, United Kingdom.
⁴ Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
⁵ Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
⁶ Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Department of Natural Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark.
⁷ Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.

PMID: 32535359
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109762

Abstract

Background: Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a complex mixture and the various PM constituents likely affect health differently. The literature on the relationships among specific PM constituents and the risk of cancer is sparse. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of PM_2.5 and its constituents with the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and the two main NHL subtypes.

Methods: We undertook a nationwide register-based case-control study including 20,847 cases registered in the Danish Cancer Registry with NHL between 1989 and 2014. Among the entire Danish population, we selected 41,749 age and sex-matched controls randomly from the Civil Registration System. We assessed modelled outdoor PM concentrations at addresses of cases and controls with a state-of-the-art multi scale air pollution modelling system and used conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for individual and neighborhood level socio-demographic variables.

Results: The 10-year time-weighted average concentrations of PM_2.5, primary carbonaceous particles (BC/OC), secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA), secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and sea salt were 17.4, 2.3, 7.8, 0.3, and 4.1 μg/m³, respectively among controls. The results showed higher risk for NHL in association with exposure to BC/OC (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07, per interquartile range (IQR)) and SOA (OR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.09, per IQR). The results indicated a higher risk for follicular lymphoma in association with several PM components. Including PM_2.5 (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 0.98-1.38), BC/OC (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.97-1.14), SIA (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 0.80-1.08), SOA (OR = 4.52; 95% CI: 0.86-23.83) per IQR.

Conclusion: This is the first study on PM constituents and the risk of NHL. The results indicated an association with primary carbonaceous and secondary organic PM. The results need replication in other settings before any firm conclusion can be reached.

Keywords: Case–control study; Non-hodgkin lymphoma; Particulate matter.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollutants* / toxicity
Air Pollution* / adverse effects
Air Pollution* / analysis
Case-Control Studies
Denmark / epidemiology
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
Humans
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* / chemically induced
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* / epidemiology
Particulate Matter / analysis
Particulate Matter / toxicity

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter