Cross-sectional investigation of the effects of atmospheric particulate pollutants on pulmonary nodules in Shijiazhuang, China

作者：Bowen Li, Ying Li, Jinguo Yuan, Xiaopeng Zhang, Chunxiao Wan · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-025-19237-7 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Air Quality and Health Impacts、Occupational and environmental lung diseases、Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in China, and its incidence is closely related to increasing levels of air pollution. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between atmospheric particulate pollutants (including O 3 , CO, NO 2 , SO 2 , PM 2.5 and PM 10 ) of different ages, genders and seasons and pulmonary nodule occurrence in Shijiazhuang city. Using the time series analysis method, focusing on the monthly lag time, the relationship between the concentration of atmospheric particulate pollutants and the incidence of pulmonary nodules was analyzed to understand the effects of pollutants on different demographic and seasonal characteristics. Modest but statistically significant associations were observed between pulmonary nodule detection and atmospheric particulate pollutants. For every IQR increase in monthly concentrations, the relative risks were 1.059 (95% CI 1.006–1.116) for PM 2.5 and 1.117 (95% CI 1.037–1.204) for SO 2 , with a 4 month lag. Converting to standardized 10 µg/m 2 increases, these correspond to 4.8 and 11.6% increases in nodule detection risk, respectively. Slightly stronger associations were observed in women compared to men, and in adults aged 60 and over, though effect sizes were modest with wide confidence intervals. These results suggest potential associations between air pollution exposure and pulmonary nodule detection, though the modest effect sizes and study limitations require cautious interpretation. The o...