title: Impact of outdoor air pollution on the incidence of tuberculosis in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 ≤ 10 µm (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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungchan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, Osong, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide
keywords: Air pollution; Sulfur dioxide; Tuberculosis