2025 IJRSE – Volume 14 Issue 17
Available Online: 2 December 2025
Author/s:
Siares, Imee Franz
Central Bicol State University of Agriculture-Graduate School, Philippines (imeefranz.siares@cbsua.edu.ph)
Abstract:
This study examined the environmental and occupational determinants contributing to tuberculosis (TB) vulnerability in Barangay Bagong Sirang, Pili, Camarines Sur—an agricultural community where respiratory exposures are prevalent. Using a descriptive case study design, the research analyzed TB cases documented from 2024 to August 2025 and assessed local environmental conditions that may heighten susceptibility to infection. Secondary data obtained from the Barangay Health Station reported a total of 17 TB cases during the study period, with 10 cases in 2024 and 7 cases from January to August 2025. All affected individuals were farmers, and most were older men, reflecting national patterns linking TB prevalence to cumulative particulate exposure, physically demanding agricultural labor, and age-related declines in immunity. The presence of younger female cases, however, underscores the broader reach of TB risk beyond traditionally affected demographic groups. Field observations identified multiple environmental stressors—including recurring smoke from biomass burning, dust from unpaved agricultural roads, and intermittent emissions and odors from the municipal sanitary landfill—that may contribute to respiratory irritation and reduced pulmonary defenses. While these conditions do not directly transmit TB, existing evidence demonstrates that chronic exposure to particulate matter can compromise respiratory health and increase vulnerability to airborne pathogens. Overall, findings indicate that the convergence of occupational factors, environmental conditions, and demographic characteristics influences TB occurrence in Barangay Bagong Sirang. Addressing TB in rural agricultural settings, therefore, requires integrated strategies that combine clinical management, environmental health interventions, strengthened community surveillance, and targeted health education.
Keywords: tuberculosis, air pollution, adverse effects, sanitation, occupational exposure, agriculture
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25315
Cite this article:
Siares, I. F. (2025). Environmental determinants of tuberculosis: A case study in Barangay Bagong Sirang, Pili, Camarines Sur. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 14(17), 129-138. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25315