Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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A Preliminary Study on the Current Status and Health Effects of PM2.5 for Evaluating the Act on Air Quality Management Regions in Jeollabuk-do Province

대기관리권역법 시행효과 평가를 위한 전북지역 초미세먼지 현황 및 건강영향 사전연구

  • Chang-Jin Ma (Department of Environmental Science, Fukuoka Women's University) ;
  • Nam-Jeong Jang (Climate Environment Team, Sustainable Social Policy Office, Jeonbuk Research Institute) ;
  • Gong-Unn Kang (Department of Health & Medical Administration, Wonkwang Health Science University)
  • 마창진 (일본 후쿠오카여자대학교 환경과학과) ;
  • 장남정 (전북연구원 지속사회정책실 기후.환경팀) ;
  • 강공언 (원광보건대학교 보건의료행정과)
  • Received : 2024.06.05
  • Accepted : 2024.07.02
  • Published : 2024.08.31
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Abstract

Background: In order to evaluate the national effort to improve air quality through the Act on Air Quality Management Regions, an investigation of the current status of air quality in respective regions and the health impact of air pollution should be undertaken. Objectives: This study is a preliminary study on the status of PM2.5 in the central region of South Korea and its health effects. It can be applied to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Act on Air Quality Management Regions. Methods: Time series variation of PM2.5 concentrations in the air quality management region (hereafter referred to as AQMR) and in the non-AQMR area in the central region of South Korea were created. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated based on the survey results of whether the residents of Jeollabuk-do were feeling anxiety caused by air pollution by sex, region, and regional characteristics. Relative risk (RR) values of lung cancer deaths in each city in the AQMR for the central region of South Korea were calculated. Results: During the period from Dec. 2018 to Dec. 2021, the average concentration of PM2.5 was higher in the AQMR at 26.0 ㎍/m3 compared to 19.5 ㎍/m3 in the non-AQMR. The odds ratio (OR) calculated using data from the Jeonbuk Research Institute (2020) suggested that women were more uncomfortable or anxious about their lives due to air pollutants than were men. The OR evaluation results also showed that in terms of PM2.5 sensitivity, residents in the non-AQMR were relatively more sensitive than those in the AQMR. The relative risk (RR) was calculated to evaluate the relationship between health hazards (PM2.5) and diseases (lung cancer). As a result, for super-aged people over 80 years old, compared to the non-AQMR (Muju-gun and Jangsu-gun), the residents in the AQMR (Jeonju, Gunsan, and Iksan) have about twice the relative risk of lung cancer. Conclusions: It is necessary to make efforts to improve residents' health and extend their healthy lives through efforts to reduce air pollutants such as PM2.5 in areas specially selected as an AQMR.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 전라북도가 발주하고 전북연구원이 수행한 '미세먼지 관리 종합계획 및 중부권 대기환경 개선 기본계획에 따른 전라북도 시행계획 수립' 연구 지원으로 수행되었으며, 이에 감사드립니다.

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