Korean J Intern Med.  2014 Mar;29(2):183-190. 10.3904/kjim.2014.29.2.183.

Impact of outdoor air pollution on the incidence of tuberculosis in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea

• Hwang SS
• Kang S
• Lee JY
• Lee JS
• Kim HJ
• Han SK
• Yim JJ

• KMID: 1792034
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2014.29.2.183

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Although indoor air pollution is a well-known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), the possible link between outdoor air pollution and TB development has not been examined fully. We assessed the impact of outdoor air pollution on TB development in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea.
METHODS
The mean concentrations of ambient particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter < or = 10 microm (PM10), O3, CO, NO2, and SO2 levels in Seoul, between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2006, were determined. Furthermore, their association with the risk of developing TB after adjusting for socioeconomic status, between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006, was investigated.
RESULTS
Between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006, a total of 41,185 TB cases were reported in Seoul. Concentrations of PM10, O3, CO, and NO2 were not associated with TB incidence in males or females. However, the interquartile increase in SO2 concentration was associated with a 7% increment in TB incidence (relative risk [RR], 1.07; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.03 to 1.12) in males but not in females (RR, 1.02; 95% CrI, 0.98 to 1.07).
CONCLUSIONS
Long-term exposure to ambient SO2 increased the risk of TB in males.

Keyword

Air pollution; Tuberculosis; Sulfur dioxide

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects
Female
Humans
Incidence
Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects
Male
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Particle Size
Particulate Matter/adverse effects
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Sulfur Dioxide/*adverse effects
Time Factors
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/*epidemiology/microbiology
*Urban Health
Particulate Matter
Sulfur Dioxide