RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Influence of air pollution in the 1960s on causes of death after 20 years
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P4953
VO 44
IS Suppl 58
A1 Takako Tanaka
A1 Yorihide Yanagita
A1 Naomi Miyamoto
A1 Yudai Yano
A1 Hideaki Senjyu
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4953.abstract
AB Background: Air pollution is a serious problem worldwide, and especially Asia. In Japan, individuals with respiratory impairment owing to pollution in the 1960s receive various types of compensation from the government. The causes of death in this population after 20 years are not known. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of death after 20 years in officially-acknowledged victims of pollution-related illness who were exposed to air pollution in the 1960s. Methods: We reviewed 1260 victims who died in Kurashiki from 1988 to 2009. We recorded the relationship between respiratory impairment owing to pollution and death, sex, respiratory diagnosis, and age at death collected by Kurashiki City Hall. Results: Respiratory impairment owing to pollution was judged to be related to death in 651 (51.7%) cases (406 males, 245 females), of which 346 (53%) had chronic bronchitis. The average age at death was 78.5 (range 22–104) years in males and 80.5 (range 20–101) years in females. The difference in age at death compared with non-victims increased with increasing age in both sexes. In 295 cases, comparison of life expectancy at the age of certification with nationwide life expectancy according to the Index of Public Welfare found that life expectancy was reduced by 4.2 years in males and 6.7 years in females. Conclusions: Death was related to respiratory impairment in about half of the victims of pollution-related illness exposed to air pollution, and life expectancy in this population was shortened.Our data suggest that life expectancy is shortened in individuals with respiratory impairment owing to air pollution, even if they receive various types of compensation.