← Back to blog

Air Quality

Air Pollution Linked to Higher Latent TB Infection Risk in Elderly Chinese Cities

"The association between exposure to air pollutants and latent tuberculosis infection prevalence in the elderly population: a population-based…" — Journal of global health, 2026

April 2, 2026by AI Curated

Air Pollution Linked to Higher Latent TB Infection Risk in Elderly Chinese Cities

What they found

This study found that latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) prevalence was 11.8% in Liaocheng and 9.7% in Weihai. Increased PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations were associated with higher odds of LTBI in both cities.

What they studied

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study in Liaocheng and Weihai, China, from April 13-30, 2025, to assess the link between air pollution and LTBI prevalence in the elderly.

Takeaways

The study suggests that managing air pollution is crucial for preventing and controlling tuberculosis.

About this paper

This was a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in Liaocheng and Weihai, China, including 2504 participants. It assessed the relationship between air pollutants and LTBI prevalence, noting that research on this direct correlation is still relatively scarce globally.

air pollutiontuberculosiselderlychinacross-sectionalhealthcuratedrespiratory

We use cookies and analytics to understand how people use Pollution Profile and improve the experience. We never sell your data. Learn more.