Potential effects of atmospheric pollutants on tuberculosis incidence in specific geographical Settings: a case of dust transmission in Kashgar, China

Abstract

Objective Air pollution can impact the human immune system through inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, immune regulation, respiratory health, and various other mechanisms. Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) in the aimay act as a carrier, facilitating the spread of tuberculosis bacilli among populations.However, the complex nature of real-world environments often makes experimentalsimulation challenging.This study starts from the spatial dimension, simulates the transport of pollutants and analyzes the incidence of tuberculosis and the distribution characteristics of pollutants in the typical area of surrounded by three mountains and facing the desert: Kashgar region. Methods The distribution characteristics of pollutants and tuberculosis epidemic areas were analyzed by Kriging interpolation