Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United States

Objective: This study examines the association between two air pollutants (PM2.5 and ozone), and the prevalence of adult diabetes mellitus in relation to various confounding factors. Methods: We collected diabetes prevalence data from the 2015 County Health Ranking and Georgia Health Data H...

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Main Authors: Kingsley A. Kalu, Jingjing Yin, Atin Adhikari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Georgia Southern University 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association
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Online Access:https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol11/iss1/2/
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author Kingsley A. Kalu
Jingjing Yin
Atin Adhikari
author_facet Kingsley A. Kalu
Jingjing Yin
Atin Adhikari
author_sort Kingsley A. Kalu
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This study examines the association between two air pollutants (PM2.5 and ozone), and the prevalence of adult diabetes mellitus in relation to various confounding factors. Methods: We collected diabetes prevalence data from the 2015 County Health Ranking and Georgia Health Data Hub. A negative binomial regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between the county-level dependent variable “adult diabetes” (for adults aged> 18 years diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) and two independent county-level variables: percentage of days ³ NAAQS for ozone and PM2.5 concentration levels while controlling for confounders. Results: At the county level of the Georgia state, every 35 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 79% increase in adult diabetes prevalence (PRR=1.788, CI=1.123-2.847). 1% increase in the percentage of African-Americans and percentage of females were associated with a 1% increase (PRR=1.012, CI=1.001-1.024), and 6% increase in adult diabetes (PRR=1.056; CI=1.002-1.113). Every 75 parts per billion (ppb) increase in ozone concentrations was associated with a 19% increase in adult diabetes (PRR=1.19, CI=1.036-1.497). Smoking status was a significant confounder for the associations between PM2.5 (PRR=1.018; CI=1.001-1.036) and ozone (PRR=1.019; CI=1.002-1.037) and adult diabetes prevalence. Conclusions: Our finding suggests significant associations between two specific air pollutants and adult diabetes prevalence rates in the Georgia state. Because diabetes prevalence is sharply increasing in the state, we believe regulatory policies should consider controlling PM2.5 and ozone levels in the state and additional evidence-based data should be collected to better understand the synergistic impact of air pollutants on diabetes prevalence rates.
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spelling doaj-art-d7f5cdf7e142488eac8ed112c695e1a42025-08-20T02:57:14ZengGeorgia Southern UniversityJournal of the Georgia Public Health Association2471-97732025-01-01111152210.20429/jgpha.2025.11102Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United StatesKingsley A. KaluJingjing YinAtin AdhikariObjective: This study examines the association between two air pollutants (PM2.5 and ozone), and the prevalence of adult diabetes mellitus in relation to various confounding factors. Methods: We collected diabetes prevalence data from the 2015 County Health Ranking and Georgia Health Data Hub. A negative binomial regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between the county-level dependent variable “adult diabetes” (for adults aged> 18 years diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) and two independent county-level variables: percentage of days ³ NAAQS for ozone and PM2.5 concentration levels while controlling for confounders. Results: At the county level of the Georgia state, every 35 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 79% increase in adult diabetes prevalence (PRR=1.788, CI=1.123-2.847). 1% increase in the percentage of African-Americans and percentage of females were associated with a 1% increase (PRR=1.012, CI=1.001-1.024), and 6% increase in adult diabetes (PRR=1.056; CI=1.002-1.113). Every 75 parts per billion (ppb) increase in ozone concentrations was associated with a 19% increase in adult diabetes (PRR=1.19, CI=1.036-1.497). Smoking status was a significant confounder for the associations between PM2.5 (PRR=1.018; CI=1.001-1.036) and ozone (PRR=1.019; CI=1.002-1.037) and adult diabetes prevalence. Conclusions: Our finding suggests significant associations between two specific air pollutants and adult diabetes prevalence rates in the Georgia state. Because diabetes prevalence is sharply increasing in the state, we believe regulatory policies should consider controlling PM2.5 and ozone levels in the state and additional evidence-based data should be collected to better understand the synergistic impact of air pollutants on diabetes prevalence rates.https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol11/iss1/2/air pollutionparticulate matterozonepm2.5elderlyfemalediabetes mellitusdiabetic population
spellingShingle Kingsley A. Kalu
Jingjing Yin
Atin Adhikari
Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United States
Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association
air pollution
particulate matter
ozone
pm2.5
elderly
female
diabetes mellitus
diabetic population
title Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United States
title_full Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United States
title_fullStr Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United States
title_full_unstemmed Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United States
title_short Associations between Atmospheric Ozone, PM2.5 and Prevalence of Diabetes in Georgia, United States
title_sort associations between atmospheric ozone pm2 5 and prevalence of diabetes in georgia united states
topic air pollution
particulate matter
ozone
pm2.5
elderly
female
diabetes mellitus
diabetic population
url https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol11/iss1/2/
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AT jingjingyin associationsbetweenatmosphericozonepm25andprevalenceofdiabetesingeorgiaunitedstates
AT atinadhikari associationsbetweenatmosphericozonepm25andprevalenceofdiabetesingeorgiaunitedstates