Global cancer burden associated with long-term exposure to ambient air pollution
Menée à l'aide de données internationales 2000-2020, cette étude évalue l'association entre une exposition à long terme aux PM2.5, à l'O3 ou au NO2 et l'incidence des cancers dans le monde puis estime la mortalité associée
Ambient air pollution poses a global threat to public health. Although the carcinogenic potential of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a growing concern, comprehensive global assessments of their cancer risks remain limited. This study evaluated the effects of long-term exposure to PM2.5, O3 and NO2 on cancer incidence and quantified their attributable burdens worldwide, encompassing 109 million cases from 952 locations between 2000 and 2020. Using distributed lag non-linear models, we identified J-shaped associations for PM2.5 and near-linear dose–response relationships for O3 and NO2. Globally, each 10 μg m−3 increase in PM2.5, O3 and NO2 was associated with an increased risk of all cancers by 16.0%, 4.23% and 11.7%, respectively. These exposures were attributable to approximately 8.82 million, 2.59 million and 6.67 million incident cases, respectively. Women showed consistently higher attributable risks and burdens for most malignancies. These findings provide critical impetus for public health policy initiatives aimed at mitigating the global cancer burden.
Nature Health , résumé, 2026