Research progress in the impact of air pollution on the occurrence and development of tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects about a quarter of the world's population, and tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major infectious diseases in the world today, with a particularly heavy disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. Concurrently, air pollution is a major environmental issue faced globally, with exposure to it being one of the leading causes of death and disease. Moreover, the health impacts of air pollution are particularly evident in low- and middle-income countries. Currently, epidemiological studies on the relationship between exposure to air pollution and the development of TB are in their infancy. The major air pollutants particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5) and particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 μm (PM₁₀), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) have been found to have certain associations with the occurrence and development of TB, with PM_2.5 and NO₂ being considered potential risk factors in many studies. Some experimental studies have also revealed the biological mechanisms between PM_2.5 and the development of TB, but there is still considerable debate surrounding these findings. This indicates the need for further epidemiological research on this topic. Should the association between environmental air pollution and TB be substantiated, mitigation of air pollution could yield substantial health dividends in regions where TB is endemic.