Spatial Analysis of Ambient PM(2.5) Exposure and Bladder Cancer Mortality in Taiwan

Fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) is an air pollutant that is receiving intense regulatory attention in Taiwan. In previous studies, the effect of air pollution on bladder cancer has been explored. This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of atmospheric PM(2.5) and other local risk factors on bladder cancer mortality based on available 13-year mortality data. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) was applied to estimate and interpret the spatial variability of the relationships between bladder cancer mortality and ambient PM(2.5) concentrations, and other variables were covariates used to adjust for the effect of PM(2.5). After applying a GWR model, the concentration of ambient PM(2.5) showed a positive correlation with bladder cancer mortality in males in northern Taiwan and females in most of the townships in Taiwan. This is the first time PM(2.5) has been identified as a risk factor for bladder cancer based on the statistical evidence provided by GWR analysis.