Associations of fine particulate matter pollution components with overall, prostate cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality in men with prostate cancer: A cohort study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Over 3.5 million US men are living with prostate cancer (Pica), many with underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) contributes to higher CVD mortality through inflammation and other mechanisms, and so may increase non-cancer mortality in men with PCa. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 886,876 men diagnosed with PCa between 2000 to 2015 and followed through 2018 across eight state cancer registries. Annual average predictions of five residential PM 2.5 component exposures (elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), nitrate, ammonium (NH 4 + ), sulfate (SO 4 2- )) were obtained from an ensemble-based machine learning model and assigned to geomasked addresses at diagnosis within 50 meters (urban) or 1 kilometer (rural). Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for associations of components separately and as a mixture with all-cause, PCa, and CVD mortality were estimated from covariate adjusted Cox models. Results There were 233,898 deaths over 5,836,741 person-years. Per interquartile range (IQR) increase, OC (aHR 1.03 [95% CI: 1.02-1.04]), NH 4 + (aHR 1.02 [1.01-1.03]), and SO 4 2- (aHR 1.11 [1.09-1.13]) were associated with all-cause mortality. CVD mortality was associated with higher EC (aHR: 1.04 [1.02-1.06]), OC (aHR 1.05 [1.03, 1.07]), NH 4 + (aHR 1.09 [1.06-1.12]) and SO 4 2- (aHR 1.19 [1.15-1.24]). There were no associations with nitrates or PCa mortality. Per IQR, PM 2.5 components mixtures were associated with higher all-cause (aHR 1.03 [1.02-1.04]), PCa (aHR 1.02 [0.99, 1.05]), and CVD mortality (aHR 1.08 [1.05, 1.11]). Discussion Certain PM 2.5 components were associated with higher all-cause and CVD mortality in men with PCa. Studies of air pollution in cancer survivors should consider impacts on non-cancer mortality.

Source: Environmental Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.123909

Authors: Hari S. Iyer, Marley Perlstein, Stefanie A. Joseph, Charlotte Roscoe, Nur Zeinomar, Alexander P. Cole, Fredrick R. Schumacher, Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, Julie J. Ruterbusch, Charles L. Wiggins, Antoinette M. Stroup, Joel Schwartz, Jaime E. Hart, Timothy R. Rebbeck, Francine Laden

Institutions: Rutgers Cancer Institute, Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Wayne State University, The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Air Quality and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,880

Funders: U.S. Department of Justice, Pennsylvania Department of Health, California Department of Public Health, University of Southern California, Wayne State University, University of New Mexico, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Prostate Cancer UK, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of California, San Francisco, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

OpenAlex ID: W7125913895