Global burden and trends of tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer attributed to occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in regions with different sociodemographic index, 1990–2021

The study highlights a widening disparity in the burden of TBL cancer due to occupational exposure to PAHs, with lower SDI regions facing greater increases in death rates and DALYs, especially among older populations. Nevertheless, given the inherent limitations of GBD estimation methods and data scarcity in LMICs, the observed disparities should be interpreted with caution and warrant further primary research.