Nationwide analysis of demographic and socioeconomic inequities in air pollution exposure in Korea, 2006–2019

Bibliographic Data

ID15380259
AuthorsSo Yeon Kim (0000-0001-5341-7553, Yonsei University, corresponding author), Sun Ju Nam Goung (0009-0004-0360-5416, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital), Soontae Kim (0000-0002-1198-934X, Yonsei University), Yoon-Hee Kang (Ajou University), Seoung Yeon Heo (0009-0001-1333-5630, Yonsei University), Min Ji Koo (0000-0001-5990-1354, National Health Insurance Service), Jaiyong Kim (0000-0003-0985-7871, National Health Insurance Service), K T Jeong (Yonsei University), Kyoung Sook Jeong (0000-0002-6897-8289)
Year2026
Volume26
Issue1
Publication date2026-02-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1471-2458 • E-ISSN: 1471-2458
PublisherBioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1186/s12889-026-26352-1
PMID41654761
OpenAlexW7128305852
LanguageEN
References cited46

Background Air pollution is a significant global health challenge, yet few studies have examined how the effects of exposure to environmental pollutants vary across demographic and socioeconomic groups. This study aims to investigate the distribution of air pollutants by demographics and socioeconomic status (SES), accounting for individual monthly residential mobility. Methods Individual annual exposures were estimated by linking monthly residential addresses to air pollutant concentrations modeled using the Community Multiscale Air Quality system. Particulate matter (≤ 10 μm, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) from 2006 to 2019 were linked to demographic and SES indicators from the Korean National Health Insurance Service for approximately 50 million individuals annually. Exposure disparities across socioeconomic groups were assessed using ANOVA, eta-squared statistics, and generalized estimating equations. Results From 2006 to 2019, overall exposures to PM10 and NO2 declined, whereas O3 levels increased. PM10 (50.18 μg/m3) and NO2 (25.01 ppb) concentrations were highest in adults aged 30–34 years, decreasing with age to 47.42 μg/m3 and 22.06 ppb among those aged ≥ 65 years. Conversely, O3 exposure was lowest in the 25–29-year age group (37.58 ppb) and increased to 39.38 ppb in those aged ≥ 65 years. Eligible individuals (medical aid recipients) had the lowest exposures to PM10 (45.15 μg/m3) and NO2 (20.12 ppb) but the highest O3 exposure (40.30 ppb). In the insured populations, self-employed individuals showed higher PM10 and NO2 exposures compared to employee-insured individuals. Higher SES groups were more likely to be in the highest tertile for PM10 and NO2 exposure (40.5% of highest-SES self-employed vs. 28.9% of lowest-SES in the high NO2 tertile), while lower SES groups showed higher O3 exposure. Spatially, PM10 and NO2 levels were higher in urban areas, whereas O3 levels were elevated in rural areas. Conclusion SES and demographics intersect to create distinct, pollutant-specific exposure patterns in Korea, contrasting with Western countries where lower-SES groups typically experience higher pollution exposure. By accounting for individual residential mobility, this study provides improved exposure estimates and highlights the importance of considering socioeconomic context in evaluating pollution-related health effects and developing targeted environmental policies

Air pollutants · Air pollution · Biostatistics · Public health · Socioeconomic status · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Diverse Approaches in Healthcare and Education Studies · Pediatric health and respiratory diseases · Epidemiology

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