Long-term exposure to ambient NO increase oral cancer prevalence in Southern China: a 3-year time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND

While the correlation between cancer and air pollutants is well-established, research on the delayed effects of NO on oral cancer remains limited.

METHODS

We collected data on nitrogen dioxide (NO) along with diagnosed cases of oral cancer in Guangxi, China, and analyzed the correlation between exposure to NO and the prevalence of oral cancer.

RESULTS

The study included 1,841 participants diagnosed with oral malignancies, consisting of 1,179 males (64.0%) and 662 females (36.0%), with a mean age of 55.9 ± 14.0 years. The NO concentration is 20.2 ± 10.4 μg/m. The highest cumulative effects of NO exposure were observed at a 3-year cumulative lag, with a relative risk (RR) of 1.115 (95% CI: 1.102-1.128). For males, the most pronounced effect of NO also occurred at a 3-year lag (RR = 1.110, 95% CI: 1.094-1.127). Similarly, among females, the significant cumulative impact of NO was found at a 3-year lag (RR = 1.123, 95% CI: 1.101-1.145). For individuals under 60 years of age, the cumulative impact of NO peaked at the same 3-year lag (RR = 1.102, 95% CI: 1.085-1.120). For individuals aged 60 and above, the highest cumulative impact of NO was also detected at a 3-year lag (RR = 1.132, 95% CI: 1.112-1.152). For the group with normal BMI, the highest cumulative effect of NO exposure was also observed at the 3-year lag period (RR = 1.289, 95% CI: 1.217-1.365), consistent with the findings for other groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest a significant lagged effect of long-term NO exposure on oral cancer, with varying associations between NO and oral cancer across different ages and genders.