Work

Ischemic heart disease mortality due to fine particulate matter in Seoul between 2016 and 2020

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background Ischemic heart disease (IHD) continues to rank among the leading global causes of mortality, consistently linked to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). Despite a declining trend in the annual average PM 2.5 concentration in Seoul, they still fail to meet the air quality standards set by the Korean Ministry of Environment (15 µg/m 3 ). We aim to estimate the IHD mortality attributable to PM 2.5 and the health benefits derived from reducing PM 2.5 concentration in Seoul, South Korea, between 2016 and 2020. Methods We utilized machine-learning-based PM 2.5 data, Global Exposure Mortality Model, mortality data, and population data to estimate the burden of IHD mortality attributed to PM 2.5 and the benefits in IHD mortality associated with reductions in PM 2.5 concentration in Seoul between 2016 and 2020. We also estimated the health benefits by considering the reference concentration in three reduction scenarios. Results During the study period, the average PM 2.5 concentration was 23.5 µg/m 3 , with 10,971 IHD deaths among individuals aged ≥ 25 years. We estimated 2,861 excess IHD deaths (aged ≥ 25 years) attributable to PM 2.5 exposure between 2016 and 2020. Under the PM 2.5 reduction scenario, achieving a PM 2.5 concentration of 15 µg/m 3 corresponds to an avoidable mortality rate of approximately 8%. Conclusions Our study assessed the burden of IHD mortality attributable to ambient PM 2.5 and the potential health benefits associated with its reduction in Seoul between 2016 and 2020. The findings suggest that continued efforts to reduce PM 2.5 concentrations could significantly mitigate IHD mortality, particularly in the context of an aging population.

Source: BMC Public Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-24204-y