Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40885956›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2025

Global air pollution exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.

Ramez M Odat, Husam Aldean H Hussain, Sakhr Alshwayyat, Hanan M Qasem, Hamza Anas Marzouk, Mariam Sulaiman Alghraibah, Dua'a Mutlaq Al-Hasaseen, Mutaz M Bani Salameh, Abdullah Itayem, Ali Abedalsalam Shtayat and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Ramez M OdatFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Husam Aldean H HussainFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Sakhr AlshwayyatKern Medical (UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine affiliate), Bakersfield, CA, USA.
Hanan M QasemFaculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Hamza Anas MarzoukFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Mariam Sulaiman AlghraibahFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Dua'a Mutlaq Al-HasaseenFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Mutaz M Bani SalamehFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Abdullah ItayemFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Ali Abedalsalam ShtayatFaculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Abdel Rahman K Bani YaseenFaculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Hamdah HanifaFaculty of Medicine, University of Kalamoon, Al_Nabk, Syria. Hamdahhanifa@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2970-7379
Dang NguyenHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAir pollution poses a significant public health threat worldwide, contributing to adverse health outcomes and reduced life expectancy. Recent research has highlighted a growing interest in understanding the association between air pollution and cancer. This meta-analysis aims to comprehensively evaluate the association between prolonged exposure to air pollution and the risk of HCC.

methodsWe searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. Eligible studies were selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria, and data were extracted independently by reviewers. Quality assessment was conducted using established tools, and statistical analysis was performed to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs) and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Review manager version 5.4.1.

resultsThe search yielded 21 studies comprising a total of 90,319,213 participants. Meta-analysis revealed statistically significant association between NO2 and PM2.5 exposure and HCC incidence with a pooled HR (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03–1.27, P value = 0.01) and (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.20, P value = 0.01), respectively. Also, a statistically significant association between NO2 and PM2.5 exposure and HCC mortality revealed with a pooled HR (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.12, P value = 0.002) and (HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10–1.25, P value = 0.00001), respectively. PM10 and NOx did not show a significant association according to our review.

conclusionThis meta-analysis provides evidence of a potential link between air pollution and HCC risk, particularly with PM2.5 and NO2 exposure. However, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and establish causality. Addressing air pollution through collaborative efforts and environmental regulations may help mitigate the risk of HCC and other types of cancer.

Indexed as

Air PollutionCarcinoma, HepatocellularEnvironmental ExposureLiver NeoplasmsHumansParticulate MatterParticulate MatterAir pollutionHCCHepatocellular carcinomaIncidencePM2.5Public healthSurvival

Identifiers

PMID40885956
PMCPMC12398141

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.