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KMID : 0191120180330370251
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Journal of Korean Medical Science
2018 Volume.33 No. 37 p.251 ~ p.251
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Premature Deaths Attributable to Long-term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter in the Republic of Korea
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Kim Jong-Hun
Oh In-Hwan
Park Jae-Hyun
Cheong Hae-Kwan
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Abstract
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Background: Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the major environmental health risk factor in Korea. Exposure to PM2.5 has been a growing public concern nationwide. With the rapid aging of the Korean population, the health effects attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5 were expected to increase further in the future. We aimed to estimate premature deaths attributable to long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 in Korea.
Methods: A modelled estimation of long-term exposure to PM2.5 was used to calculate the nationwide exposure level. Hazard ratios of long-term exposure to PM2.5 were obtained from a large prospective cohort study in North America. Modified cause of death (CoD) data, which applied the garbage code reclassification algorithm, were used to calculate premature deaths attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5.
Results: From 1990 to 2013, the average population-weighted PM2.5 concentration in Korea was 30.2 μg/m3. The estimated number of premature deaths was 17,203 (95% confidence interval [CI], 11,056?22,772). The most common CoD was ischemic stroke (5,382; 3,101?7,403), followed by cancer of trachea, bronchus, and lung (4,958; 2,857?6,820), hemorrhagic stroke (3,452; 1,989?4,748), and ischemic heart disease (3,432; 1,383?5,358).
Conclusion: Premature deaths due to long-term exposure to PM2.5 accounted for 6.4% of all deaths in Korea. However, individual efforts alone cannot prevent the effects of air pollution. This disease burden study can serve as a basis for the establishment of government policies and budgets and can be used to assess the effectiveness of environmental health policies.
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KEYWORD
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Particulate Matter, Premature Deaths, Mortality, Air Pollution, Air Quality
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