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Air pollution contributes to increased incidence of head and neck cancer
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports links elevated levels of particulate matter pollutants to increased cases of head and neck cancer in the aerodigestive system.
The paper, "Air Pollution Exposure and Head and Neck Cancer Incidence," is a collaboration between researchers from Wayne State University, Johns Hopkins University and Mass General Brigham and Women's Health.
The study was led by John Kramer, Ph.D., associate professor of otolaryngology, and John Peleman, M.D., medical resident in the department of otolaryngology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. They collaborated with Mass General Brigham, an integrated academic health system.
"Previous studies of air pollution have mostly linked it to lower respiratory tract cancers. The link to head and neck cancer is harder to prove, and the incidence of this cancer is much lower than lung cancer. However, because head and neck cancer can also be caused by smoking, like lung cancer, we wanted to investigate possible links. The link to head and neck cancer is thought to be due to inhaled substances affecting the lining of the head and neck area. We are seeing cases where carcinogens settle in specific locations in the body, causing cancer," said John Kramer, Ph.D., assistant professor of otolaryngology at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
"While there has been a significant amount of research on the effects of pollutants on lung disease, few studies have focused on air pollution as a risk factor for upper respiratory tract disease, including head and neck cancer," said senior author Stella Lee, MD, of the Center for Surgery and Community Health and the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham Health System. "These findings highlight the significant role of environmental pollution in upper aerodigestive tract cancers, highlighting the need for increased awareness, further research, and the development of pollution-reduction measures."
The study used data from the national SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database from 2002 to 2012. Kramer noted the strongest association between air pollution exposure and head and neck cancer with a five-year lag. They focused on PM2.5 — particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns — and its impact on head and neck cancer incidence in the aerodigestive system.
"We're looking at air pollution particles of a certain size," Kramer said. "Particle size matters because the classic model of upper airway research suggests that the nose and throat act as filters before air enters the lungs. Larger particles are filtered out, but we assume that different types of pollution affect different parts of the airway."
Kramer hopes to expand his research to include other data sets. He hopes that publishing these findings will help inform policy and support future treatments.
"Environmental health and personal health are inextricably linked," said co-author Amanda Dilger, MD, of CSPH and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, part of the Mass General Brigham system. "Our study highlights the need to improve air quality standards to reduce the risk of cancer, including head and neck cancer."