THE EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTION QUALITY ON LUNG CANCER RATES IN MIDDLE-INCOME AND HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS APPROACH

Objectives: Air pollution is one of the biggest problems in societies today. The intensity of indoor and outdoor air pollutants and the urbanization rate can cause or trigger many different diseases, especially lung cancer. In this context, this study aims to examine the relationship between indoor and outdoor air pollutants and urbanization rate with lung cancer cases. Methods: A single dependent variable was used in the models developed for both country groups, while three independent variables were used. The dependent variable of the model is lung cancer cases per 100,000 people. The independent variables are the level of outdoor air pollution, the level of indoor air pollution, and the rate of urbanization in the countries. Econometric models will be developed for the effect of the independent variables used within the scope of the research on lung cancer incidence. For both models produced, the time dimension of the study covers the period 1990-2019, and the data type of the variables is annual. Results: İn the modeling developed for the developed country group, it is seen that the variable with the highest level of effect on lung cancer is the outdoor air pollution level. Conclusions: In parallel with the development of countries, it has been determined that the increase in industrial production wastes, in other words, worsening the air quality, may potentially cause an increase in lung cancer cases. Indoor air quality is also essential for human health; negative changes in this variable may negatively impact individuals’ health, especially lung cancer.