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Identifying factors associated with mental health status following climate-related disasters: a nationwide longitudinal panel study in Korea
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Eunjin Oh, Jaelim Cho, Changsoo Kim, Hyungryul Lim, Kyoung-Nam Kim
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Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025014. Published online March 27, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025014
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 Abstract
Summary
 PDF Supplementary Material
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Despite the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, identifying factors associated with mental health status remains challenging. This study aimed to determine the factors linked to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following heavy rainfall and typhoons.
METHODS National data on climate-related disaster victims (n=825 for heavy rainfall and n=1,220 for typhoon) from a longitudinal panel in Korea (“Long-term Survey on the Change of Life of Disaster Victims”) and data from individuals unaffected by disasters (n=893) were used. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to evaluate the factors associated with mental health status following climate-related disasters.
RESULTS Greater disaster severity (e.g., experiencing casualties or asset loss) was associated with higher scores for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and PTSD (Impact Event Scale-Revised). The association between casualty experience and anxiety score was more pronounced among individuals over 65 years (β [log-transformed score], 1.39; standard error [SE], 0.26; p<0.001), female respondents (β, 1.20; SE, 0.20; p<0.001), those with a low education level (β, 1.18; SE, 0.25; p<0.001), and those with a low income (β, 1.45; SE, 0.26; p<0.001) compared to their counterparts.
CONCLUSIONS These findings may help guide targeted interventions and shape public health policies and disaster management strategies that prioritize mental health support for the most at-risk populations, ultimately increasing community resilience to climate-related challenges.
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Summary
Korean summary
본 연구는 기후 관련 재난 후 우울증, 불안, PTSD와 관련된 요인을 파악하였다. 재난의 심각도가 클수록 정신 건강 악화는 더 심각하였으며 특히 노인, 여성, 낮은 교육 수준과 소득을 가진 취약한 그룹이 더 큰 위험에 처해 있었다. 이 결과는 향후 재난 대응에서 이러한 인구집단을 지원하기 위한 맞춤형 정신 건강 개입과 정책의 필요성을 시사한다.
Key Message
We identified factors associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD following climate-related disasters, highlighting that greater disaster severity correlates with worse mental health outcomes. Vulnerable groups, such as older adults, women, those with lower education and income, are at higher risk. The findings suggest the need for targeted mental health interventions and policies to support these populations in future disaster responses.
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Association between humidifier disinfectant use duration and lung cancer development in Korea
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Sungchan Kang, Jeong-In Hwang, Su Hwan Kim, Hyungryul Lim, Dong-wook Lee, Woojoo Lee, Jong Hun Kim, Sol Yu, Jungyun Lim, Younghee Kim, Kyoung-Nam Kim
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Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025023. Published online May 2, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025023
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Abstract
Summary
PDFSupplementary Material
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to assess the association between the duration of humidifier disinfectant use and lung cancer development.
METHODS We analyzed data from 3,605 applicants registered for compensation from the Korean government due to health conditions related to humidifier disinfectant exposure. Among these individuals, 121 were diagnosed with lung cancer at least 4 years after their initial exposure (through December 2021). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer incidence were estimated according to the duration of disinfectant use using Cox proportional hazards models.
RESULTS Compared with <5 months of use, the HRs for lung cancer were 1.81 (95% CI, 0.41 to 7.97) for 5-14 months, 2.45 (95% CI, 0.58 to 10.41) for 15-29 months, and 4.61 (95% CI, 1.12 to 18.91) for ≥30 months. Using never smokers with <15 months of use as the reference category, the HRs were 2.97 (95% CI, 1.34 to 6.56) for never smokers with ≥15 months of use, 2.73 (95% CI, 0.94 to 7.95) for current or former smokers with <15 months of use, and 4.74 (95% CI, 1.94 to 11.61) for current or former smokers with ≥15 months of use.
CONCLUSIONS Our study provides some of the first robust epidemiological evidence that prolonged humidifier disinfectant use contributes to lung cancer development. Future studies—particularly those including unexposed populations—are needed to confirm these findings.
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Summary
Korean summary
* 장기간의 가습기 살균제 사용과 폐암 발생의 위험 간에는 정량적 연관성을 발견할 수 있었습니다.
* 가습기살균제를 30개월 이상 사용했다고 응답한 사람들은, 가습기살균제를 5개월 미만 사용했다고 응답한 사람들과 비교하여 폐암 발생 위험이 4배 높았습니다.
Key Message
* There is a quantitative association between prolonged humidifier disinfectants use and the risk of lung cancer incidence.
* Individuals reported they used humidifier disinfectants for more than 30 months had more than four times higher risk of lung cancer than those of individuals who reported they used humidifier disinfectants for less than five months.
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Age-specific effects of ozone on pneumonia in Korean children and adolescents: a nationwide time-series study
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Kyoung-Nam Kim, Youn-Hee Lim, Sanghyuk Bae, In Gyu Song, Soontae Kim, Yun-Chul Hong
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Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022002. Published online December 28, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022002
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Abstract
Summary
PDFSupplementary Material
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to estimate the age-specific effects of 8-hour maximum ozone levels on pneumonia in children and adolescents.
METHODS We performed quasi-Poisson regression analyses for individuals of 0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, and 15-19 years of age using nationwide time-series data from the Korea (2011-2015). We constructed distributed lag linear models employing a generalized difference-in-differences method and controlling for other air pollutants.
RESULTS A 10.0-parts per billion increase in 8-hour maximum ozone levels was associated with a higher risk of hospital admissions due to pneumonia at 0-4 (relative risk [RR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.03) and 5-9 years of age (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.08), but not at 10-14 (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.04) or 15-19 years of age (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.06). The association between ozone and hospital admissions due to pneumonia was stronger in cool seasons (from November to April) than in warm seasons (from May to October), but was similar between boys and girls.
CONCLUSIONS Short-term exposure to ozone was associated with a higher risk of pneumonia at 0-4 years and 5-9 years of age, but not at 10-14 years or 15-19 years of age. Our findings can help identify vulnerable periods, determine the target populations for public health interventions, and establish air pollution standards.
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Summary
Korean summary
-어린이와 청소년에서 대기오염물질인 오존에 단기 노출되었을 때 폐렴으로 인한 입원 위험이 증가하는지를 건강보험공단 청구자료를 이용하여 구축한 시계열자료로 분석하였다.
-0-4세, 5-9세 군에서는 오존 단기 노출 시 폐렴으로 인한 입원 위험이 증가하였으나 10-14세, 15-19세 군에서는 입원 위험 증가가 관찰되지 않았다.
Key Message
• The effects of ozone levels on hospital admissions for pneumonia were evaluated.
• We used quasi-Poisson time-series models and a difference-in-differences method.
• Ozone levels increased hospital admissions for pneumonia at ages 0–4 and 5–9 years.
• Evidence for the effects of ozone levels on pneumonia was not found at older ages.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by  - Short-term effects of ambient ozone on pediatric pneumonia hospital admissions: a multi-city case-crossover study in China
Huan Wang, Huan-Ling Zeng, Guo-Xing Li, Shuang Zhou, Jin-Lang Lyu, Qin Li, Guo-Shuang Feng, Hai-Jun Wang
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.2025; 30: 75. CrossRef - Challenges of Air Pollution and Health in East Asia
Xihao Du, Renjie Chen, Haidong Kan
Current Environmental Health Reports.2024; 11(2): 89. CrossRef - Intraday exposure to ambient ozone and emergency department visits among children: a case-crossover study in southern China
Jiahong Ren, Lifeng Zhu, Yachen Li, Haiyi Li, Qian Hu, Jian Zhu, Qingyan Zhang, Yunquan Zhang
Environmental Science and Pollution Research.2023; 30(30): 74853. CrossRef
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