Epidemiology and Health

Original Articles

Mortality burden attributable to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter among older adults in Korea: Jongmin Oh, Jisun Myung, Changwoo Han, Hyun-Joo Bae, Soontae Kim, Yun-Chul Hong, Dong-Wook Lee, Youn-Hee Lim; Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025028. Published online May 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025028

5,751 View
120 Download

Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to evaluate the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) and cause-specific mortality among older adults in Korea, providing insights into the evolving public health burden in an aging society.
METHODS
We analyzed national insurance claims data spanning 2010-2019. Modeled PM2.5 concentrations were assigned to participants according to their residential districts. We employed time-varying Cox proportional hazard models, using age as the time scale, adjusted for potential confounders. Six cause-specific mortalities were considered: ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), lung cancer (LC), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Annual excess deaths attributable to long-term PM2.5 exposure were calculated.
RESULTS
A total of 5,360,032 older adults were followed from 2010 to 2019. Hazard ratios (HRs) per 10 μg/m3 increase in 12-month PM2.5 concentration were as follows: IHD, 1.068 (95% CI, 1.040 to 1.097); stroke, 1.023 (95% CI, 1.003 to 1.043); ALRI, 1.050 (95% CI, 1.026 to 1.076); COPD, 1.114 (95% CI, 1.072 to 1.157); T2DM, 1.046 (95% CI, 1.007 to 1.086); and LC, 0.972 (95% CI, 0.948 to 0.996). Excess deaths attributable to long-term PM2.5 exposure were estimated at 4,888 (95% CI, 2,304 to 7,323) in 2010 and 5,179 (95% CI, 2,585 to 7,648) in 2019.
CONCLUSIONS
Although PM2.5 levels in Korea have shown a declining trend over the past decade, mortality among older adults associated with long-term PM2.5 exposure has not significantly decreased, likely due to the rapid aging of the population.; Summary

Korean summary
2010–2019년 동안 대한민국 노인 536만 명 대상의 후향적 코호트 연구를 수행하였다. 장기적인 초미세먼지(PM2.5) 노출은 허혈성 심질환, 뇌졸중, 하기도 감염, 만성폐쇄성폐질환, 제2형 당뇨병으로 인한 사망 위험 증가와 관련성이 있었다. 연간 PM2.5 농도는 감소했으나, 고령화로 인해 PM2.5에 기인한 초과 사망은 2010년 4,888명에서 2019년 5,179명으로 증가하였다. 대기질 개선에도 불구하고 고령화로 인해 PM2.5로 인한 사망 부담은 여전히 중요한 공중보건 문제이다.

Key Message
A retrospective cohort of 5.36 million older adults was followed from 2010 to 2019 in Korea. Long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased mortality from IHD, stroke, ALRI, COPD, and T2DM. Although annual PM2.5 concentrations declined, excess deaths rose from 4,888 in 2010 to 5,179 in 2019, largely driven by population aging. Despite improvements in air quality, the PM2.5-related mortality burden remains a significant public health concern due to population aging.

Development of Lipoma among Residents Exposed to Glass Fiber Waste.: Hyun Sul Lim, Hae Kwan Cheong, Ji Yong Kim, Jung Ran Kim, Kiyoshi Sakai, Naomi Hisanaga; Korean J Epidemiol. 1999;21(2):159-175.

8,847 View
18 Download

Abstract PDF: Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the relationship between exposure to glass fiber waste from an insulator factory and the development of cluster of lipomas among local residents in suburb Incheon, Korea. Authors surveyed 152 residents(71 males and 81 females) living near an insulator factory with a questionnaire and physical examination. Unused and disposed fiberglass from the waste site, along with ground water samples were examined under light and polarizing microscope and scanning electron microscope(SEM). Subcutaneous tumors excised from three of the residents were also examined under light and polarizing microscope, SEM with energy dispersive X-ray analysis(EDX), and transmission electron microscope(TEM). Analysis of elemental composition of the fibers and fiber concentration was done by with EDX under SEM and TEM after low temperature ashing. Twelve(7.9%) had subcutaneous tumors among the 152 residents. Tumors were surgically excised from 3 of them and they were all lipomas, consisting of mature fat tissue. These lipomas contained abundant birefringent fibers and particles under polarizing microscope. The concentrations of the fibers were 6.7, 71.8 and 499.2 million fibers per gram dry tissue, respectively. The birefringent fibers were composed of needle shaped particles with rectangular fractured ends up to 17 micrometer in length and 0.5 micrometer in diameter. EDX and x-ray diffraction analysis of the fibers showed that 71 to 100% of the fibers were magnesium silicate, talc. Magnesium silicate fibers were also found in the glass fiber sampled from the waste site. Glass fibers and magnesium silicate fibers were also identified in the ground water. Based on the fact that the magnesium silicate fibers found in the lipomas were similar in morphology and elemental composition to those found in the ground water and those from the waste site, these particles are likely to be introduced into the gastrointestinal tract through consumption of the contaminated ground water. It is suggested that fibrous magnesium silicate, talc, a component of fiberglass waste, may be associated with the development of lipomas.; Summary

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search