Lung cancer’s future in China

In China, the risk of getting lung cancer from inhaled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is higher in eastern portions of the country, and greater in major cities than in rural areas, researchers have found. Yanxu Zhang et al. modeled the amount of PAH emissions nationwide and characteristics of Chinese populations to determine their risk for lung cancer. Variation in genetic susceptibility was taken into consideration in the risk assessment. PAH emissions in China come from burning biomass and coal as fuel in rural areas, and from industrial processes in cities. The authors found that the highest PAH concentrations were well above national safety standards in parts of eastern China, where biomass burning and coke ovens are common. Areas with small coke ovens and short smokestacks had the highest PAH concentrations because it is harder to disperse the chemicals. The authors suggest that PAH concentrations could be worse indoors because the chemicals are also byproducts of burning fuels for heating and cooking. PAH concentrations have been growing since the 1980s, but the authors say that PAH pollution may decrease as China moves toward cleaner fuels this century, which could help decrease lung cancer incidence. — P.D.