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Association between Air Pollution and Suicide in South Korea: A Nationwide Study

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  • Youngdon Kim
  • Woojae Myung
  • Hong-Hee Won
  • Sanghong Shim
  • Hong Jin Jeon
  • Junbae Choi
  • Bernard J Carroll
  • Doh Kwan Kim

Abstract

Suggestive associations of suicide with air pollutant concentrations have been reported. Recognizing regional and temporal variability of pollutant concentrations and of suicide, we undertook a detailed meta-analysis of completed suicides in relation to 5 major pollutants over 6 years in the 16 administrative regions of the Republic of Korea, while also controlling for other established influences on suicide rates. Of the 5 major pollutants examined, ozone concentrations had a powerful association with suicide rate, extending back to 4 weeks. Over the range of 2 standard deviations (SD) around the annual mean ozone concentration, the adjusted suicide rate increased by an estimated 7.8% of the annual mean rate. Particulate matter pollution also had a significant effect, strongest with a 4-week lag, equivalent to 3.6% of the annual mean rate over the same 2 SD range that approximated the half of annual observed range. These results strongly suggest deleterious effects of ozone and particulate matter pollution on the major public health problem of suicide.

Suggested Citation

  • Youngdon Kim & Woojae Myung & Hong-Hee Won & Sanghong Shim & Hong Jin Jeon & Junbae Choi & Bernard J Carroll & Doh Kwan Kim, 2015. "Association between Air Pollution and Suicide in South Korea: A Nationwide Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(2), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0117929
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117929
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hong-Hee Won & Woojae Myung & Gil-Young Song & Won-Hee Lee & Jong-Won Kim & Bernard J Carroll & Doh Kwan Kim, 2013. "Predicting National Suicide Numbers with Social Media Data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-6, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yoon-Sun Jung & Ki-Beom Kim & Seok-Jun Yoon, 2020. "Factors Associated with Regional Years of Life Lost (YLLs) due to Suicide in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Yeran Sun & Ting On Chan & Jing Xie & Xuan Sun & Ying Huang, 2020. "Examining Spatial Association of Air Pollution and Suicide Rate Using Spatial Regression Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Hojin Jung, 2020. "The Impact of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter on Consumer Expenditures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Mieczysław Szyszkowicz & Roger Zemek & Ian Colman & William Gardner & Termeh Kousha & Marc Smith-Doiron, 2020. "Air Pollution and Emergency Department Visits for Mental Disorders among Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-13, June.
    5. Hojin Jung, 2020. "Economic effects of ambient air pollution on consumer shopping behaviors," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 9(3), pages 255-264.
    6. Seulkee Heo & Whanhee Lee & Michelle L. Bell, 2021. "Suicide and Associations with Air Pollution and Ambient Temperature: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-21, July.

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