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Background: Air pollution and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) are still serious worldwide problems, especially in areas of developing countries. Whether there is an association between high ambient air pollutant concentrations and PTB has not been fully explored., Methods: Bayesian spatial-temporal models were constructed to analyse the association between ambient air pollutants (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of ≤10 μm (PM 10 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )) and PTB incidence, adjusting for socioeconomic covariates. We collected data on pulmonary TB, ambient air pollution (PM 10 , SO 2 and NO 2 ) concentrations and socioeconomic covariates from 17 prefectures in the central Chinese province of Hubei between Jan 1, 2006, and Dec 31, 2015., Results: For every annual 10 μg/m 3 increase in SO 2 , the relative risk (RR) of PTB incidence was 1.046 (95% credible interval [CI], 1.038-1.054) in the study area. Moreover, we found positive associations with each annual 10 μg/m 3 increase in ambient air pollutants (PM 10 , SO 2 and NO 2 ) in females but only with SO 2 in males. A significant association for each 10 μg/m 3 increase in SO 2 was observed in all the age groups, with a significant association for PM 10 only in children under 14 years of age. A significant response relationship was also observed at a 0-1 month moving average lag for each 10 μg/m 3 increase in SO 2 ., Conclusions: High ambient air pollution concentrations in areas of developing countries might increase the risk of regional PTB incidence, especially for women and young people. Precautions and protective measures and efforts to reduce ambient air pollutant concentrations should be strengthened in developing countries.

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among underground miners exposed to silica remains a global problem. Although well described in gold and coal mining, risk in other mining entities are not as well documented. This study aims to determine dust-related dose response risk for PTB among underground miners exposed to silica dust in Zambia's copper mines., Methods: A cross sectional study of in-service miners (n = 357) was conducted at Occupational Health and Safety Institute (OHSI), Zambia. A systematic review of medical data over a 5-year period from assessments conducted by doctors at OHSI and statutory silica exposure data (n = 16678) from the Mine Safety Department (MSD) were analysed. Lifetime cumulative exposure metrics were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between PTB and lifetime exposure to silica, while adjusting for various confounders., Results: The median respirable silica dust level was 0.3 mg/m(3) (range 0.1-1.3). The overall prevalence of PTB was 9.5 % (n = 34). High cumulative respirable silica dust category showed a statistically significant association with PTB (OR = 6.4 (95 % CI 1. 8-23)) and a significant trend of increasing disease prevalence with increasing cumulative respirable silica dust categories was observed (ptrend < 0.01). Smoking showed a statistically significant association with PTB with OR = 4.3 (95 % CI 1.9-9.9)., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the association of increased risk for certified active TB with cumulative respirable dust in a dose related manner among this sample of copper miners. There is need to intensify dust control measures and incorporate anti-smoking interventions into TB prevention and control programmes in the mines.