The relationship between short-term PM2.5 exposure and outpatient visits for acne vulgaris in Chongqing, China: a time-series study

Particulate matter and inflammatory skin diseases: From epidemiological and mechanistic studies

Epidemiological and toxicological studies have confirmed that exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) could affect our cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Recent studies have shown that PM can penetrate the skin and cause skin inflammation, but the evidence is limited and contradictory. As the largest outermost surface of the human body, the skin is constantly exposed to the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between PM and inflammatory skin diseases. Most epidemiological studies have provided positive evidence for outdoor, indoor, and wildfire PM and inflammatory skin diseases. The effects of PM exposure during pregnancy and inflammatory skin diseases in offspring are heterogeneous. Skin barrier dysfunction, Oxidative stress, and inflammation may play a critical role in the underlying mechanisms. Finally, we summarize some interventions to alleviate PM-induced inflammatory skin diseases, which may contribute to public health welfare. Overall, PM is related to inflammatory skin diseases via skin barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Appropriate government interventions are beneficial.

Exposure to particulate pollutant increases the risk of hospitalizations for Sjögren's syndrome

Objective

Numerous researches have reported the role of air pollution in the development of autoimmune diseases. However, few have evaluated the relationship between inhalable particulate matter (PM) exposure and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). This study aimed to analyze the association between exposure to two particulate pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀) and SS-related hospitalizations.

Methods

Daily data were obtained on PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, meteorological factors, and hospital hospitalizations for SS between 2016 and 2021. The daily data on PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, meteorological factors, and the number of SS hospitalizations were collected between 2016 and 2021. A distributed lag non-linear model and a generalized linear model were established to explore the association between PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exposure and hospitalizations for SS. Stratified analyses were performed to explore possible gender-, age-, and season-related differences in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ effects.

Results

Exposure to PM_2.5 was related to the evaluated risk of hospitalizations for SS (RR=1.015, 95% CI: 1.001-1.029, lag 3 day), similarly, PM₁₀ exposure had a statistically significant positive association with SS hospitalizations (RR =1.013, 95% CI: 1.001-1.026, lag 3 day). Stratified analyses found that exposure to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exhibited higher impact on SS-related hospitalizations in female patients and exposure to PM_2.5 was also associated with the higher risk of SS-related hospitalizations in patients aged ≥ 65 years. In addition, exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀ in colder season were more likely to increase SS-related hospitalizations.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested that exposure to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were significantly linked to an elevated risk of hospitalizations for SS.