Objective  To explore interactive effect of air pollutants and temperature on years of life lost (YLL) due to lung cancer and to provide references for studies on impacts of lung cancer mortality.

  Methods  We collected data of Hexi district on lung cancer mortality in the residents, air pollutants monitoring, and meteorology observation during the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. Bivariate response surface model, uni- and multi-pollutant and temperature interactive model were established using non-linear lag distribution to analyze the interactive effect of air pollutants and temperature on lung cancer-related YLL in the population of the district.

  Results  Relative to the reference temperature of 16.3 ℃, high temperature (34 ℃) and low temperature (– 13 ℃) increased YLL of lung cancer by 1.12% (95% confidence interval 95% CI: 0.58% – 2.16%) and 1.49% (95% CI: 0.16% – 14.25%). Particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), one-hour average ozone (O₃-1h), and eight-hour average ozone (O₃-8h) could increase YLL of lung cancer by 1.00% (95% CI: 0.98% – 1.03%), 1.01% (95% CI: 0.95% – 1.08%), 1.01% (95% CI: 0.99% – 1.03%), 1.03% (95% CI: 0.98% – 1.09%), and 1.03% (95% CI: 0.98% – 1.09%), respectively. Under the low temperature, a 10 μg/m³ increment in PM_2.5 and NO₂ could increase the YLL of lung cancer by 4.14% (95% CI:0.55% – 7.85%) and 5.44% (95% CI: – 4.80% – 16.78%).

  Conclusion  High and low temperature, PM_2.5, NO₂, CO, O₃-1h and O₃-8h can all increase daily YLL of lung cancer in an exposed population and the effect of PM_2.5 and NO₂ are stronger under low temperature.