title: Particulate air pollution and susceptibility to the development of pulmonary tuberculosis disease in North Carolina: an ecological study.
abstract: Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), environmental factors may influence disease progression. Ecologic studies conducted in countries outside the USA with high levels of air pollution and PTB have suggested a link between active disease and ambient air pollution. The present investigation is the first to examine the ambient air pollution-PTB association in a country, where air pollution levels are comparatively lower. We used Poisson regression models to examine the association of outdoor air pollutants, PM10 and PM2.5 with rates of PTB in North Carolina residents during 1993-2007. Results suggest a potential association between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and PTB disease. In view of the high levels of air pollution and high rates of PTB worldwide, a potential association between ambient air pollution and tuberculosis warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: a UNC Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Epidemiology , Chapel Hill , NC , USA .
authors.forename: Genee S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Victor J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Schoenbach
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Marilie D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gammon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000209:etiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter