A study has found that ozone (O₃), an air pollutant, increases the mortality risk for organ transplant recipients. Ozone is a substance made up of three oxygen atoms, formed when pollutants emitted from vehicles or factories interact with sunlight. It irritates the eyes, nose, and respiratory system, causing coughing and breathing difficulties.
Researchers, including Professor Lee Jeong-pyo of Seoul Boramae Hospital's nephrology department, Professor Han Seung-hyun of Ilsan Paik Hospital's nephrology department, and Professor Kim Young-hoon of Seoul Asan Hospital's organ and pancreas transplantation surgery department, noted on the 21st that "for the first time in the world, the impact of long-term exposure to ozone on the survival rates and prognosis of organ transplant patients has been identified." The study results were published in the international academic journal 'American Journal of Transplantation' on the 4th.
The research team observed 4,796 adults who underwent kidney transplants at three university hospitals in Korea from 2002 to 2020. They tracked the average annual ozone levels in the areas where the patients lived and monitored patient prognoses. They analyzed how long-term exposure to ozone affects the survival of organ transplant recipients.
As a result, it was found that a 5 ppb (1 ppb is one part per billion) increase in the average annual ozone levels raises the mortality risk of organ transplant recipients by 65%. The risk of kidney function loss in transplanted kidneys increased by 60%. When ozone levels exceed 40 ppb, the mortality risk significantly escalates.
Professor Han Seung-hyun said, "Ozone levels have consistently increased over the past several decades due to global warming," and emphasized that "policies must be strengthened to protect patients vulnerable to environmental pollution." Professor Lee Jeong-pyo noted, "This shows that environmental management in the age of climate change impacts organ transplant patients."
References
American Journal of Transplantation (2025) : https://www.amjtransplant.org/article/S1600-6135(25)02878-3/abstract