Burden of Disease Due to Outdoor Air Pollution in Korea: Based on PM_(10)

Abstract

Purpose: This study measured the burden of disease in Korea related to outdoor air pollution using disabilityadjusted life year (DALY). Materials and Methods: As a risk factor of outdoor air pollution, particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 μm(PM_(10) ) was used. First, PM_(10) -related diseases and their relative risk (RR) were selected by means of a literature review. Second, population attributable fractions were computed by using formulae including RR and population exposure to PM_(10) . Third, DALYs of PM_(10) -related diseases in Korea were estimated. Finally, the attributable burden of disease due to PM_(10) was measured as the sum of the products that multiplied the DALYs of PM_(10) -related diseases by their population attributable fractions. Results: The disease burden of PM_(10) was 6.9 DALY per 1,000 persons in 2007. The attributable burden of PM_(10)was 2.68 for lung cancer, 2.41 for COPD, 0.62 for ischemic heart disease, 0.61 for pneumonia, 0.55 for asthma,and 0.03 for preterm. Conclusions: This study showed the environmental burden of disease of PM_(10) and burden of PM_(10) -related disease through objective data. It also suggested that active efforts are needed to continuously measure and reduce the burden of environmental diseases in Korea