A regional study to evaluate the impact of coal-fired power plants on lung cancer incident rates

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths. In Kansas, where coal-fired power plants account for 34% of power, we investigated whether hosting counties had higher age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates. We also examined demographics, poverty levels, percentage of smokers, and environmental conditions using spatial analysis.Methods: Data from the Kansas Health Matters, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2010–2014) for 105 counties in Kansas were analyzed. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) assessed associations between risk factors and age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates while Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) examined regional risk factors.Results: Moran’s I test confirmed spatial autocorrelation in age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates (p < 0.0003). MLR identified percentage of smokers, population size, and proportion of elderly population as significant predictors of age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates (p < 0.05). GWR showed positive associations between percentage of smokers and age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates in majority of counties.Conclusion: Proximity to a coal-fired power plant was not a significant predictor of age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates. Instead, percentage of smokers was a consistent global and regional risk factor. Regional lung cancer outcomes in Kansas are influenced by wind patterns and elderly population.

Keywords

• Lung cancer
• coal-fired power plant
• Spatial analysis
• Environmental factors
• Public health