SA study links air pollution to deadly pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis risks
The study revealed that older adults and young children are more vulnerable during periods of high air pollution.
A South African study has linked air pollution to increased risks of deadly pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, and the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre analyzed 59,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) over 19 years in South Africa.
They discovered that certain Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) subtypes were more susceptible to the effects of air pollution. Subtypes 14, 19A, and 8 were linked to a higher risk of IPD following exposure, while subtypes 4, 8, 23F, and 19F saw an immediate surge in cases within the same week. The study also found that older adults and young children are particularly vulnerable during periods of high air pollution.
Co-lead author Professor Anne von Gottberg of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases emphasized that air quality significantly impacts public health and that improving air quality could reduce disease risk. Co-lead author Professor Rachel Lowe of the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre added that climate change and rapid urbanization are altering environmental conditions that influence infectious disease risk.
The research highlights the importance of monitoring and mitigating air pollution, especially in urban areas with high S. pneumoniae exposure rates. The World Health Organization previously warned that 99% of the global population breathes polluted air that exceeds safe limits, with health impacts manifesting even at lower levels than previously known.
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