Benzo(a)pyrene - an air pollutant harmful to health in European countries

Background: Benzo(a)pyrenes are organic compounds from the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons group known for their carcinogenic properties. Benzo(a)pyrenes are formed as a result of incomplete combustion of organic matter, such as biomass or fossil fuel.Aim of the study: To investigate whether respiratory diseases and malignant neoplasm-related deaths correlate to air concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene in European countries.Material and methods: Publicly available data were obtained regarding benzo(a)pyrene concentration from the EUROSTAT database, as well as territorial division in accordance with NUTS 2. Diseases were defined according to ICD-10.Results: There is a positive correlation of medium effect (r = 0.442; p < 0.001) between the annual average concentration of benzo(a)pyrene and deaths due to malignant neoplasms, with the strongest correlation being malignant bladder neoplasms (r = 0.502; p < 0.001). There is a positive correlation of a moderately weak effect (r = 0.221; p = 0.002) between the annual average concentration of benzo(a)pyrene and deaths due to respiratory diseases, with the strongest correlation for pneumonia of various etiologies, which is a positive correlation of a medium effect (r = 0.496; p < 0.001). Linear regression models showed that reducing the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene by 1 ng/m3 will reduce the frequency of deaths due to malignant laryngeal neoplasms by 0.816 per 1000 residents, malignant bladder neoplasms by 1.41 per 1000 residents, and deaths due to pneumonia by 11.26 per 1000 residents.Conclusions: We have found that benzo(a)pyrene concentration has a moderate correlation with death due to respiratory diseases and malignant neoplasms. More in-depth studies regarding other factors, e.g. the age of the patient are needed.