Unwelcome Guest, More Than That: Fine Dust... Increasing Risks of Dementia and Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers

The unwelcome visitor of spring, yellow dust, swept across the Korean Peninsula last week. On the worst days, March 12-13, fine dust (P10) concentrations remained at a “very bad” level (151㎍/㎥ or higher) nationwide all day long, except for some regions. The harmful effects of fine dust on health have already been proven through numerous studies. It is also classified as a representative Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Recently, the medical community has been actively conducting research to further clarify how fine dust deteriorates the body and causes diseases.

On the 12th, when a fine dust warning was issued across Seoul, the city center viewed from Namsan in Seoul was shrouded in fine dust accompanied by yellow dust. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

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A recent domestic study revealing the correlation between air quality and dementia has attracted academic attention. A research team led by Professors Jae-Rim Cho and Chang-Soo Kim from Yonsei University College of Medicine and Professor Young Roh from the Department of Neurology at Gachon University Gil Medical Center published findings in the international journal Environment International that air pollutants such as fine dust thin the cerebral cortex, increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia.

The cerebral cortex is the area on the surface of the brain where nerve cells gather and is responsible for cognitive functions such as memory and learning ability. Changes in the cerebral cortex are closely related to brain diseases. The average thickness of the cerebral cortex in healthy individuals is about 2.5 mm, whereas Alzheimer’s dementia patients have a thinner cortex measuring about 2.2 mm. Fine dust was found to reduce this cortical thickness. When fine dust and ultrafine dust concentrations increased by 10㎍/㎥, the cerebral cortex thickness decreased by 0.04 mm and 0.03 mm, respectively.

As the concentration of air pollutants rose, cognitive function also declined. When fine dust and ultrafine dust concentrations increased similarly, cognitive function scores decreased by 1.13 points and 0.69 points, respectively. Additionally, the risk of mild cognitive impairment, a precursor stage to Alzheimer’s dementia, increased by 2.2 times and 1.5 times, respectively. Professor Jae-Rim Cho explained, “This study confirmed that air pollutants cause cerebral cortex atrophy, reduce cognitive function, and increase the risk of dementia.”

There is also research showing that long-term exposure to fine dust increases the risk of lung cancer regardless of smoking status. According to a large-scale cohort study conducted last year by the Boramae Hospital research team involving over 5.83 million people, an increase of 10㎍/㎥ in fine dust concentration tended to raise lung cancer incidence rates. Current smokers had a 1.4 times higher risk, and former smokers had a 1.2 times higher risk. Notably, in men, lung cancer risk (HR) significantly increased with rising fine dust levels regardless of smoking status.

To block yellow dust and fine dust, it is essential to wear a health mask rated KF80 or higher. KF80 masks can filter out more than 80% of fine particles averaging 0.6㎛ in size, while KF94 and KF99 masks filter out 94% and 99% or more of particles averaging 0.4㎛, respectively. When purchasing health masks, check for the “quasi-drug” label on the container or packaging.

It is also important to be aware of precautions to safely block fine dust. Washing health masks compromises their ability to filter fine particles and maintain performance. When wearing a mask, it should fit snugly to completely cover the nose and mouth. Using towels or tissues underneath reduces the mask’s fit and lowers its blocking effectiveness. Professor Cho emphasized, “During severe air pollution, it is best to avoid going outside and to wear a health mask when engaging in outdoor activities.”

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