Spatial consistency of co-exposure to air and surface water pollution and cancer in China

This study investigated the combined impact of air and surface water pollution on cancer incidence in China using data from 377 million people across 30 provinces. A spatial evaluation system (SESEC) was developed to harmonize nationwide data on air, surface water, and cancer incidence. A graded scale of co-pollution was created to quantify the combined effects. A dose-response relationship was observed between the degree of co-pollution and both the number of affected cancer types and cancer incidence. An estimated 62,847 (7.4%) new cancer cases in 2016 were attributable to air and surface water pollution, with the majority occurring in areas with the highest co-pollution levels. The findings highlight the interconnectedness of environmental factors and their impact on cancer and support the need for cooperative environmental governance and disease prevention policies.

Jingmei Jiang, Luwen Zhang, Zixing Wang, Wentao Gu, Cuihong Yang, Yubing Shen, Jing Zhao, Wei Han, Yaoda Hu, Fang Xue, Wangyue Chen, Xiaobo Guo, Hairong Li, Peng Wu, Yali Chen, Yujie Zhao, Jin Du, Chengyu Jiang