title: Outdoor Air Pollution and Pterygium in Korea.
abstract: We investigated relationships between outdoor air pollution and pterygium in Korean adults. This study includes 23,276 adults in population-based cross-sectional data using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2011. Pterygium was assessed using slit lamp biomicroscopy. Air pollution data (humidity, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm [PM₁₀], ozone [O₃], nitrogen dioxide [NO₂], and sulfur dioxide levels [SO₂]) for 2 years preceding the ocular examinations were acquired. Associations of multiple air pollutants with pterygium or pterygium recurrence after surgery were examined using multivariate logistic models, after adjusting for several covariates. Distributed lag models were additionally used for estimating cumulative effects of air pollution on pterygium. None of air pollution factors was significantly associated with pterygium or pterygium recurrence (each P > 0.05). Distributed lag models also showed that air pollution factors were not associated with pterygium or pterygium recurrence in 0-to-2 year lags (each P > 0.05). However, primary pterygium showed a weak association with PM10 after adjusting for covariates (odds ratio [OR] 1.23; [per 5 μg/m³ PM₁₀ increase]; P = 0.023). Aging, male sex, and greater sun exposure were associated with pterygium, while higher education level and myopia were negatively associated with pterygium (each P ≤ 0.001). Male sex and myopia were negatively associated with pterygium recurrence (each P < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to higher PM10 levels was associated with primary pterygium, although this study observed no significant association between air pollution and overall pterygium or pterygium recurrence in Korean adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Woong
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7989-1795
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Hyeong
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3228-8179
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ha
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2274-8573
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae Jung
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4187-9045
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mee Kum
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7850-6894
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Ryang
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2590-5490
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea. amidfree@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3985-990X
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011625:Pterygium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
keywords: Air Pollution; Association; PM₁₀; Pterygium; Recurrence