Kamila Widziewicz1, Wioletta Rogula-Kozlowska2, Krzysztof Loska3, Karolina Kociszewska4, Grzegorz Majewski4. 1. Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze 41-819, Poland. 2. Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze 41-819, Poland; The Main School of Fire Service, Faculty of Fire Safety Engineering, Warsaw 01-629, Poland. 3. Institute of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice 44-100, Poland. 4. Division of Meteorology and Climatology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw 02-776, Poland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To check whether health risk impacts of exposure to airborne metals and Benzo(a) Pyrene during episodes of high PM10 concentrations lead to an increased number of lung cancer cases in Poland. METHODS: In this work, we gathered data from 2002 to 2014 concerning the ambient concentrations of PM10 and PM10-bound carcinogenic Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] and As, Cd, Pb, and Ni. With the use of the criterion of the exceedance in the daily PM10 mass concentration on at least 50% of all the analyzed stations, the PM10 maxima's were selected. Lung cancer occurrences in periods with and without the episodes were further compared. RESULTS: During a 12-year period, 348 large-scale smog episodes occurred in Poland. A total of 307 of these episodes occurred in the winter season, which is characterized by increased emissions from residential heating. The occurrence of episodes significantly (P < 0.05) increased the concentrations of PM10-bound carcinogenic As, Cd, Pb, Ni, and B(a)P. During these events, a significant increase in the overall health risk from those PM10-related compounds was also observed. The highest probability of lung cancer occurrences was found in cities, and the smallest probability was found in the remaining areas outside the cities and agglomerations. CONCLUSION: The link between PM pollution and cancer risk in Poland is a serious public health threat that needs further investigation.
OBJECTIVE: To check whether health risk impacts of exposure to airborne metals and Benzo(a) Pyrene during episodes of high PM10 concentrations lead to an increased number of lung cancer cases in Poland. METHODS: In this work, we gathered data from 2002 to 2014 concerning the ambient concentrations of PM10 and PM10-bound carcinogenic Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] and As, Cd, Pb, and Ni. With the use of the criterion of the exceedance in the daily PM10 mass concentration on at least 50% of all the analyzed stations, the PM10 maxima's were selected. Lung cancer occurrences in periods with and without the episodes were further compared. RESULTS: During a 12-year period, 348 large-scale smog episodes occurred in Poland. A total of 307 of these episodes occurred in the winter season, which is characterized by increased emissions from residential heating. The occurrence of episodes significantly (P < 0.05) increased the concentrations of PM10-bound carcinogenicAs, Cd, Pb, Ni, and B(a)P. During these events, a significant increase in the overall health risk from those PM10-related compounds was also observed. The highest probability of lung cancer occurrences was found in cities, and the smallest probability was found in the remaining areas outside the cities and agglomerations. CONCLUSION: The link between PM pollution and cancer risk in Poland is a serious public health threat that needs further investigation.