A study found that cancer survivors exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) face a risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, increasing by as much as 9%.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, no association was observed between exposure to fine particulate matter and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as the researchers estimated that limiting outdoor activities and wearing masks mitigated the impact of fine particulate matter.
On the 13th, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital announced that a research team led by Professor Shin Hyun-young from the Department of Family Medicine at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and Professor Park Sang-min from the Department of Family Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital confirmed this fact by analyzing data from 39,581 individuals who survived more than three years after a cancer diagnosis, based on data from the National Health Insurance Corporation.
The research team analyzed patients who were diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases after 2015 among those who were diagnosed with cancer from 2009 to 2018 and survived for at least three years, evaluating the effects of fine particulate matter exposure before and after the onset of COVID-19 on cardiovascular diseases.
As a result, before COVID-19, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increased by 3% for every 10μg/m³ increase in the daily average concentration of fine particulate matter, with the risk of occurrence rising by as much as 9% depending on exposure levels.
However, following the start of social distancing measures in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the association between fine particulate matter and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases significantly weakened and virtually disappeared.
The research team noted that decreased exposure to fine particulate matter due to mask-wearing, limiting outdoor activities, and telecommuting was analyzed as the main cause. They also suggested that the reduction in the concentration of fine particulate matter in the air globally during COVID-19—due to decreased factory operations and traffic—might have contributed.
The research team believed it was significant that they confirmed the effects of changes in the social environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not only on fine particulate matter exposure but also on vulnerable health groups such as cancer survivors.
Professor Park Sang-min said, "Cancer survivors are sensitive to changes in external environments, so it's important to manage everyday exposure to environmental factors such as fine particulate matter."
Professor Shin Hyun-young stated, "Inhaling fine particulate matter can lead to changes in gut microbiota, increased lung inflammation, and systemic inflammatory responses, which are known to raise the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmias and endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, cancer survivors’ health management can vary based on daily life and environmental factors, and utilizing cancer health clinics that can provide integrated health management can be beneficial."
References
Atmospheric Pollution Research (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2025.102574