[News Today] Fine dust harms physical, mental health

[LEAD]
From December through early spring, fine dust reaches its peak and becomes a serious health threat. It's not just the lungs at risk. Experts warn that high pollution levels can harm the heart, skin, eyes and even mental health. This makes it a full-body concern that requires extra caution, especially for high-risk groups.

[REPORT]
The city is trapped under a hazy cloud of dust.

The dust hurts not only the view but also people's health.

Kim Jun-ho / Yongin resident
My eyes sting and my throat feels scratchy and I cough a lot. Because of that, I often wake up feeling rundown.

Korean researchers are using big data that links national health checkup records with air-pollution exposure levels to analyze how fine dust affects different aspects of physical health.

If we first look at cardiovascular diseases, long-term exposure to fine dust for more than a year shows that higher fine-dust levels increase the risk of atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular-related death.

Because fine dust enters the bloodstream through the capillaries, it triggers systemic inflammation and causes cell damage.

Prof. Kim In-soo/ Gangnam Severance Hospital
It can worsen atherosclerosis, raise the risk of blood clots and cause calcium buildup in heart muscle cells, which can lead to deformity and more severe arrhythmias.

Fine dust also undermines mental health.

A person living in an area with an annual average fine-dust level of ten micrograms per cubic meter or higher face a 28 percent higher risk of depression and a 62 percent higher risk of panic attacks.

Prof. Myung Woo-jae / SNU Bundang Hospital
Fine dust entering through the nose can reach the brain via the olfactory nerves, affect the brain’s immune system and disrupt circuits that regulate mood and emotion.

The research team also found that fine dust also increases the risks of skin and eye diseases.

People with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, chronic inflammation, or mental health conditions should watch for symptoms when fine dust levels rise and avoid smoking, drinking, going out and intense exercise.

■ 제보하기
▷ 전화 : 02-781-1234, 4444
▷ 이메일 : kbs1234@kbs.co.kr
▷ 카카오톡 : 'KBS제보' 검색, 채널 추가
▷ 카카오 '마이뷰', 유튜브에서 KBS뉴스를 구독해주세요!

KBS