Comprehensive Summary
This study, presented by Oh and colleagues, investigates the impact of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in Seoul, South Korea. Using machine-learning–based PM2.5 estimates, national mortality records, population data, and the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM), the researchers calculated both the burden of IHD deaths attributable to PM2.5 and the health benefits of reducing PM2.5 levels between 2016 and 2020. The study found that during this five-year period, average PM2.5 concentrations in Seoul remained above national air quality standards and were associated with an estimated 2,861 excess IHD deaths among adults aged 25 and older. Modeling of reduction scenarios demonstrated that meeting the Korean Ministry of Environment standard of 15 µg/m³ would have prevented roughly 8% of IHD deaths during the same timeframe, with even greater mortality benefits projected under stricter WHO targets. It is suggested that population aging will likely amplify future IHD burdens linked to PM2.5. Additionally, recent policy interventions show promise for lowering pollution levels and achieving measurable health gains.
Outcomes and Implications
As countries become more developed, air pollution inevitably follows, leading to negative health outcomes. This research is critical because it quantifies, using high-resolution exposure data, how significantly air pollution contributes to cardiovascular mortality in a densely populated urban environment. By producing location-specific and age-stratified estimates, the work strengthens the evidence that PM2.5 is not only a chronic environmental hazard but a modifiable determinant of IHD risk, particularly in aging populations who already bear a heightened cardiovascular disease burden. Clinically, it is demonstrated that population level reductions in PM2.5 can meaningfully decrease IHD mortality within just a few years. Clinicians can integrate this knowledge into risk counseling, emphasizing environmental exposures alongside traditional factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia. The findings also support broader implementation of environmental health surveillance and highlight the need for hospital systems to collaborate with local governments as air quality policies evolve.