Association between fine particulate matter and oral cancer among Taiwanese men

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM(2.5)) and oral cancer among Taiwanese men. Four linked data sources including the Taiwan Cancer Registry, Adult Preventive Medical Services Database, National Health Insurance Research Database, and Air Quality Monitoring Database were used. Concentrations of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, NOx (nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide), coarse particulate matter (PM(10-2.5)) and PM(2.5) in 2009 were assessed in quartiles. A total of 482 659 men aged 40 years and above were included in the analysis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between PM(2.5) and oral cancer diagnosed from 2012 to 2013. After adjusting for potential confounders, the ORs of oral cancer were 0.91 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.11) for 26.74≤PM(2.5)<32.37, 1.01 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.20) for 32.37≤PM(2.5)<40.37 µg/m(3) and 1.43 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.74) for PM(2.5)≥40.37 µg/m(3) compared with PM(2.5)<26.74 µg/m(3). In this study, there was an increased risk of oral cancer among Taiwanese men who were exposed to higher concentrations of PM(2.5).