Past studies have found associations between air pollution and conditions such as lung cancer, acute lower respiratory
infections, strokes, heart disease and other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
But less is known about the potential effects on bone health, according to the
authors of the paper published in the journal JAMA Network
Open.
The study involved 3,717 people aged 35 on average, living in 28 villages near the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. They were recruited for the research project between 2009 and 2012. On average, the participants were annually exposed to 32.8 μg/m3 of particulate matter measuring up to 2.5 micrometers in diameter—which is more than the safe level of 10 μg/m3 set by the World Health Organisation.
Researchers then invited participants to a clinic where they had special x-ray scans to detail their bone mineral content and density.The team found a negative association between air pollution exposure and bone mineral content and bone mineral density.
The team believes breathing in combustion particles could trigger an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, known as oxidative stress, as well as inflammation. If the air is contaminated, the accumulation of pollutants could trigger immune responses, Otavio T. Ranzani, the first author of the study explained.
"This chronic status of inflammation can damage our bone health," he said. Ranzani said people should keep up habits good for the bones such as exercising, eating enough calcium and maintaining vitamin D levels.
The study involved 3,717 people aged 35 on average, living in 28 villages near the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. They were recruited for the research project between 2009 and 2012. On average, the participants were annually exposed to 32.8 μg/m3 of particulate matter measuring up to 2.5 micrometers in diameter—which is more than the safe level of 10 μg/m3 set by the World Health Organisation.
Researchers then invited participants to a clinic where they had special x-ray scans to detail their bone mineral content and density.The team found a negative association between air pollution exposure and bone mineral content and bone mineral density.
The team believes breathing in combustion particles could trigger an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, known as oxidative stress, as well as inflammation. If the air is contaminated, the accumulation of pollutants could trigger immune responses, Otavio T. Ranzani, the first author of the study explained.
"This chronic status of inflammation can damage our bone health," he said. Ranzani said people should keep up habits good for the bones such as exercising, eating enough calcium and maintaining vitamin D levels.
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