The association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and risk for pancreatic cancer: an application of social informatics

Nrupen A Bhavsar; Kay Jowers; Lexie Z Yang; Sharmistha Guha; Xuan Lin; Sarah Peskoe; Hannah McManus; Lisa McElroy; Mercedes Bravo; Jerome P Reiter; Eric Whitsel; Christopher Timmins

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The association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and risk for pancreatic cancer: an application of social informatics

Bhavsar, Nrupen A ^[1] ; Jowers, Kay ^[1] ; Yang, Lexie Z ^[1] ; Guha, Sharmistha ^[2] ; Lin, Xuan ^[1] ; Peskoe, Sarah ^[1] ; McManus, Hannah ^[1] ; McElroy, Lisa ^[1] ; Bravo, Mercedes ^[1] ; Reiter, Jerome P ^[1] ; Whitsel, Eric ^[3] ; Timmins, Christopher ^[1]
1. [1] Duke University
  
  Duke University
  
  Township of Durham, Estados Unidos
2. [2] Texas A&M University
  
  Texas A&M University
  
  Estados Unidos
3. [3] University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  
  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  
  Township of Chapel Hill, Estados Unidos
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Localización: American journal of epidemiology, ISSN-e 1476-6256, ISSN 0002-9262, Vol. 194, Nº. 3, 2025, págs. 730-737
Idioma: inglés
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- Abstract There is a profound need to identify modifiable risk factors to screen and prevent pancreatic cancer. Air pollution, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for cancer. We conducted a case-control study using data from the electronic health record (EHR) of Duke University Health System, 15-year residential history, NASA satellite fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and neighborhood socioeconomic data. Using deterministic and probabilistic linkage algorithms, we linked residential history and EHR data to quantify long-term PM2.5 exposure. Logistic regression models quantified the association between a 1 interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 concentration and pancreatic cancer risk. The study included 203 cases and 5027 controls (median age of 59 years, 62% female, 26% Black). Individuals with pancreatic cancer had higher average annual exposure (9.4 μg/m3) as compared to an IQR increase in average annual PM2.5, which was associated with greater odds of pancreatic cancer (odds ratio = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.00-1.44). These findings highlight the link between elevated PM2.5 exposure and increased pancreatic cancer risk. They may inform screening strategies for high-risk populations and guide air pollution policies to mitigate exposure. This article is part of a Special Collection on Environmental Epidemiology.