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Song Z, Lynch K, Parker-Allotey NA, Bennett EE, Xu X, Whitsel EA, Smith R, Stewart JD, Park ES, Ying Q, Power MC. Association of midlife air pollution exposures and residential road proximity with incident dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 258:119425. [PMID: 38879108 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence links higher air pollution exposures to increased risk of cognitive impairment. While midlife risk factors are often most strongly linked to dementia risk, few studies have considered associations between midlife roadway proximity or ambient air pollution exposure and incident dementia decades later, in late life. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to determine if midlife exposures to ambient air pollution or roadway proximity are associated with increased risk of dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study over up to 29 years of follow-up. METHODS Our eligible sample included Black and White ARIC participants without dementia at Visit 2 (1990-1992). Participants were followed through Visit 7 (2018-2019), with dementia status and onset date defined based on formal dementia ascertainment at study visits, informant interviews, and surveillance efforts. We used adjusted Weibull survival models to assess the associations of midlife ambient air pollution and road proximity with incident dementia. RESULTS The median age at baseline (1990-1992, Visit 2) of the 12,700 eligible ARIC participants was 57.0 years; 56.0% were female, 24.2% were Black, and 78.9% had at least a high school education. Over up to 29 years of follow-up, 2511 (19.8%) persons developed dementia. No associations were found between ambient air pollutants and proximity to major roadways with risk of incident dementia. In exploratory analyses, living closer to roadways in midlife increased dementia risk in individuals younger at baseline and those without midlife hypertension, and there was evidence of increased risk of dementia with increased midlife exposure to NOx, several PM2.5 components, and trace metals among those with diabetes in midlife. CONCLUSIONS Midlife exposure to ambient air pollution and midlife roadway proximity was not associated with dementia risk over decades of follow-up. Further investigation to explore potential for greater susceptibility among specific subgroups identified here is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Song
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Katie Lynch
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Naa Adoley Parker-Allotey
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Erin E Bennett
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Eric A Whitsel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Richard Smith
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - James D Stewart
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Eun Sug Park
- Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Qi Ying
- Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, United States
| | - Melinda C Power
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
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Faherty T, Badri H, Hu D, Voliotis A, Pope FD, Mudway I, Smith J, McFiggans G. HIPTox-Hazard Identification Platform to Assess the Health Impacts from Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollutant Exposures, through Mechanistic Toxicology: A Single-Centre Double-Blind Human Exposure Trial Protocol. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:284. [PMID: 38541284 PMCID: PMC11154498 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21030284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, our understanding of the impact of air pollution on short- and long-term population health has advanced considerably, focusing on adverse effects on cardiovascular and respiratory systems. There is, however, increasing evidence that air pollution exposures affect cognitive function, particularly in susceptible groups. Our study seeks to assess and hazard rank the cognitive effects of prevalent indoor and outdoor pollutants through a single-centre investigation on the cognitive functioning of healthy human volunteers aged 50 and above with a familial predisposition to dementia. Participants will all undertake five sequential controlled exposures. The sources of the air pollution exposures are wood smoke, diesel exhaust, cleaning products, and cooking emissions, with clean air serving as the control. Pre- and post-exposure spirometry, nasal lavage, blood sampling, and cognitive assessments will be performed. Repeated testing pre and post exposure to controlled levels of pollutants will allow for the identification of acute changes in functioning as well as the detection of peripheral markers of neuroinflammation and neuronal toxicity. This comprehensive approach enables the identification of the most hazardous components in indoor and outdoor air pollutants and further understanding of the pathways contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. The results of this project have the potential to facilitate greater refinement in policy, emphasizing health-relevant pollutants and providing details to aid mitigation against pollutant-associated health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Faherty
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Huda Badri
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, 2nd Floor Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Rd., Manchester M23 9LT, UK; (H.B.); (J.S.)
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Dawei Hu
- Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; (D.H.); (A.V.); (G.M.)
| | - Aristeidis Voliotis
- Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; (D.H.); (A.V.); (G.M.)
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Francis D. Pope
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Ian Mudway
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK;
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Jacky Smith
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, 2nd Floor Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Rd., Manchester M23 9LT, UK; (H.B.); (J.S.)
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
| | - Gordon McFiggans
- Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; (D.H.); (A.V.); (G.M.)
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Duchesne S, Rousseau LS, Belzile-Marsolais F, Welch LA, Cournoyer B, Arseneau M, Lapierre V, Poulin SM, Potvin O, Hudon C. A Scoping Review of Alzheimers Disease Hypotheses: An Array of Uni- and Multi-Factorial Theories. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 99:843-856. [PMID: 38788067 PMCID: PMC11191496 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Background There is a common agreement that Alzheimers disease (AD) is inherently complex; otherwise, a general disagreement remains on its etiological underpinning, with numerous alternative hypotheses having been proposed. Objective To perform a scoping review of original manuscripts describing hypotheses and theories of AD published in the past decades. Results We reviewed 131 original manuscripts that fulfilled our inclusion criteria out of more than 13,807 references extracted from open databases. Each entry was characterized as having a single or multifactorial focus and assigned to one of 15 theoretical groupings. Impact was tracked using open citation tools. Results Three stages can be discerned in terms of hypotheses generation, with three quarter of studies proposing a hypothesis characterized as being single-focus. The most important theoretical groupings were the Amyloid group, followed by Metabolism and Mitochondrial dysfunction, then Infections and Cerebrovascular. Lately, evidence towards Genetics and especially Gut/Brain interactions came to the fore. Conclusions When viewed together, these multi-faceted reports reinforce the notion that AD affects multiple sub-cellular, cellular, anatomical, and physiological systems at the same time but at varying degree between individuals. The challenge of providing a comprehensive view of all systems and their interactions remains, alongside ways to manage this inherent complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Duchesne
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Université, Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Louis-Simon Rousseau
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- School of Psychology, Université, Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Florence Belzile-Marsolais
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- School of Psychology, Université, Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Laurie-Ann Welch
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- School of Psychology, Université, Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | | | | | - Véronick Lapierre
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- School of Psychology, Université, Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | | | - Olivier Potvin
- Quebec Heart and Lung Research Institute, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Carol Hudon
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- School of Psychology, Université, Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- VITAM Research Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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Chen GC, Nyarko Hukportie D, Wan Z, Li FR, Wu XB. The Association Between Exposure to Air Pollution and Dementia Incidence: The Modifying Effect of Smoking. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2023; 78:2309-2317. [PMID: 36373950 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influence of overall air pollution on dementia risk and the potential effect modification by other risk factors remain to be clarified. METHODS We included 459 844 UK residents who were free of dementia and had data on the exposure to particulate matter (PM)2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10, NO2, and NOx during baseline recruitment. The combined exposure to various PMs and NOx was estimated by using an air pollution score. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident dementia were estimated by multivariable Cox models. RESULTS During a median 11.7 years follow-up, 5 905 incident cases of all-cause dementia were identified. With the exception of PM2.5-10, all other air pollutants were separately associated with a higher risk of all-cause dementia (all p-trend < .001) with generally similar associations for dementia subtypes. An increasing air pollution score was associated with higher risks of all-cause as well as individual dementia outcomes, with adjusted HRs (95% CI) of 1.27 (1.18, 1.37) for all-cause dementia, 1.27 (1.14, 1.43) for Alzheimer's disease, and 1.35 (1.16, 1.57) for vascular dementia when comparing the highest with the lowest quartile of the score (all p-trend < .001). These associations of air pollution score with dementia and its subtypes were observed among never and former smokers but not among current smokers (all p-interaction
< .030). CONCLUSION Air pollution was associated with a higher risk of dementia among nonsmokers but not current smokers. Additional studies are required to confirm our findings and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the possible effect modification by smoking status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Chong Chen
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Daniel Nyarko Hukportie
- School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhongxiao Wan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fu-Rong Li
- School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xian-Bo Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Tang J, Chen A, He F, Shipley M, Nevill A, Coe H, Hu Z, Zhang T, Kan H, Brunner E, Tao X, Chen R. Association of air pollution with dementia: a systematic review with meta-analysis including new cohort data from China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 223:115048. [PMID: 36529331 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
It remains unclear whether a total exposure to air pollution (AP) is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Little is known on the association in low- and middle-income countries. Two cohort studies in China (in Anhui cohort 1402 older adults aged ≥ 60 followed up for 10 years; in Zhejiang cohort 6115 older adults followed up for 5 years) were conducted to examine particulate matter - PM2.5 associated with all dementia and air quality index (AQI) with Alzheimer's disease, respectively. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed following worldwide literature searched until May 20, 2020 to identify 15 population-based cohort studies examining the association of AP with dementia (or any specific type of dementia) through PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, CINHAL, and CNKI. The cohort studies in China showed a significantly increased relative risk (RR) of dementia in relation to AP exposure; in Anhui cohort the adjusted RR was 2.14 (95% CI 1.00-4.56) in people with PM2.5 exposure at ≥ 64.5 μg/m3 versus <63.5 μg/m3 and in Zhejiang cohort the adjusted RR was 2.28 (1.07-4.87) in AQI>90 versus ≤ 80. The systematic review revealed that all 15 studies were undertaken in high income countries/regions, with inconsistent findings. While they had reasonably good overall quality of studies, seven studies did not adjust smoking in analysis and 13 did not account for depression. Pooling all eligible data demonstrated that dementia risk increased with the total AP exposure (1.13, 1.08-1.19). Data analysis of air pollutants showed that the RR significantly increased with PM2.5 (1.06, 1.03-1.10 in 2nd tertile exposure; 1.13, 1.07-1.19 in 3rd tertile versus 1st tertile), PM10 (1.05, 0.86-1.29; 1.62, 0.60-4.36), carbon monoxide (1.69, 0.72-3.93; 1.52, 1.35-1.71), nitrogen dioxide (1.06, 1.03-1.09; 1.18, 1.10-1.28) and nitrogen oxides (1.09, 1.04-1.15; 1.26, 1.13-1.41), but not ozone. Controlling air pollution and targeting on specific pollutants would reduce dementia globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Tang
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anthony Chen
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Middlesex University, UK
| | - Fan He
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Martin Shipley
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK
| | - Alan Nevill
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
| | - Hugh Coe
- Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Zhi Hu
- School of Health Administration, Anhui Medical University, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, China
| | - Eric Brunner
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK
| | - Xuguang Tao
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, John Hopkins University, USA
| | - Ruoling Chen
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, John Hopkins University, USA.
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Seaton A. Air pollution: What is it and what we must do. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2022; 52:267-272. [DOI: 10.1177/14782715221129767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is widespread misunderstanding of air pollution and its effects in the media. This relates to the complexities of studying and reporting on the issue – multiple different associated pollutants and diverse reported toxic effects. This article explains what air pollution is and how it may affect health, from heart to brain. It then explains, using Scotland as an example, how pollution can be reduced to levels at which public health effects become small but that, because of its close causative link with climate change, both government action and, especially, our individual responses to the issue are still urgently necessary. The medical profession is urged to set an example by reducing personal carbon footprints.
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Seaton A, Cherrie JW, Cowie H, Aitken RJ. Science With Purpose: 50 Years of the Institute of Occupational Medicine. Front Public Health 2022; 10:924678. [PMID: 35812511 PMCID: PMC9260281 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.924678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) was founded in 1969 by the then UK National Coal Board to complete its nation-wide epidemiological study of lung disease in coal miners, the Pneumoconiosis Field Research. The results quantified risks in the industry and were influential across the world in setting preventive standards. The research, based on epidemiology, was multidisciplinary from the start, and the IOM's broad scientific expertise was applied across many other industries with an increasing focus on environmental measurement and ergonomics. In 1990, as the coal industry declined, IOM became a self-funding research charity with a strong commercial arm. It has expanded its research, often with European collaborators and funding from governments, and has achieved wide recognition. This has most recently been applied during the pandemic in areas of hospital ventilation, personal protection, and viral exposure research, illustrating IOM's ability to respond to new environmental or occupational challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Seaton
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- University of Aberdeen, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John W. Cherrie
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Hilary Cowie
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Hilary Cowie
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He F, Tang J, Zhang T, Lin J, Li F, Gu X, Chen A, Nevill A, Chen R. Impact of air pollution exposure on the risk of Alzheimer's disease in China: A community-based cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112318. [PMID: 34742710 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. Impact of air pollution (AP) on the risk of AD is unclear. It is unknown which air pollutants are independently associated with AD and whether fish consumption mitigated the association. We carried out a community-based cohort of 6115 participants aged ≥60 years in China to examine the association of PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, SO2 and O3 exposure with AD, and differences in the association between people with low and high consumption of fish. The participants were randomly recruited from six counties in Zhejiang province for health survey to document socio-demographic and disease risk factors in 2014, and were followed up to diagnose AD in 2019. A total of 986 cohort members were diagnosed with AD. Based on the daily mean air pollutants monitored in 2013-2015 in the counties, participants were divided into low, middle and high AP exposure groups for subsequent analysis. The multiple adjusted odds ratio (OR) of AD in participants living with the middle and high levels of PM2.5 exposure versus the low exposure were 1.50 (95% CI 0.90-2.50) and 3.92 (2.09-7.37). The increased ORs were also with PM10 (1.74, 0.65-4.64; 3.00, 1.22-7.41) and CO (2.86, 1.32-6.20; 1.19, 0.45-3.18), but not with NO2 (0.63, 0.17-2.27; 0.95, 0.28-3.19), SO2 (0.44, 0.19-1.001; 1.21, 0.56-2.62), and O3 (0.38, 0.20-0.74; 0.50, 0.21-1.21). There were no significant interaction effects of AP with fish consumption on AD. However, participants with low consumption of fish appeared to have higher ORs in PM2.5 exposure (1.80, 1.39-2.33; 5.18, 3.93-6.82) than those high consumption (1.38, 0.78-2.47; 2.89, 1.50-5.59). Our findings of PM2.5, PM10 and CO exposure significantly increased the risk of AD and the potential mitigating effect of fish consumption on the association provide evidence for developing effective strategies for AD reduction and air pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan He
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Tang
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, UK; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junfen Lin
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fudong Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xue Gu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Anthony Chen
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, UK
| | - Alan Nevill
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, UK
| | - Ruoling Chen
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, UK.
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Naidu R, Biswas B, Willett IR, Cribb J, Kumar Singh B, Paul Nathanail C, Coulon F, Semple KT, Jones KC, Barclay A, Aitken RJ. Chemical pollution: A growing peril and potential catastrophic risk to humanity. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106616. [PMID: 33989840 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic chemical pollution has the potential to pose one of the largest environmental threats to humanity, but global understanding of the issue remains fragmented. This article presents a comprehensive perspective of the threat of chemical pollution to humanity, emphasising male fertility, cognitive health and food security. There are serious gaps in our understanding of the scale of the threat and the risks posed by the dispersal, mixture and recombination of chemicals in the wider environment. Although some pollution control measures exist they are often not being adopted at the rate needed to avoid chronic and acute effects on human health now and in coming decades. There is an urgent need for enhanced global awareness and scientific scrutiny of the overall scale of risk posed by chemical usage, dispersal and disposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), The University of Newcastle, ATC Building, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
| | - Bhabananda Biswas
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Future Industries Institute, UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Ian R Willett
- School of Agriculture & Food Systems, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Julian Cribb
- Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (as an adjunct), Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia
| | - Brajesh Kumar Singh
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2753, Australia
| | | | - Frederic Coulon
- Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Kirk T Semple
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin C Jones
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Barclay
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Robert John Aitken
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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Jankowska-Kieltyka M, Roman A, Nalepa I. The Air We Breathe: Air Pollution as a Prevalent Proinflammatory Stimulus Contributing to Neurodegeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:647643. [PMID: 34248501 PMCID: PMC8264767 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.647643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution is regarded as an important risk factor for many diseases that affect a large proportion of the human population. To date, accumulating reports have noted that particulate matter (PM) is closely associated with the course of cardiopulmonary disorders. As the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and autoimmune disorders have risen and as the world’s population is aging, there is an increasing interest in environmental health hazards, mainly air pollution, which has been slightly overlooked as one of many plausible detrimental stimuli contributing to neurodegenerative disease onset and progression. Epidemiological studies have indicated a noticeable association between exposure to PM and neurotoxicity, which has been gradually confirmed by in vivo and in vitro studies. After entering the body directly through the olfactory epithelium or indirectly by passing through the respiratory system into the circulatory system, air pollutants are subsequently able to reach the brain. Among the potential mechanisms underlying particle-induced detrimental effects in the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS), increased oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, microglial activation, disturbance of protein homeostasis, and ultimately, neuronal death are often postulated and concomitantly coincide with the main pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative processes. Other complementary mechanisms by which PM could mediate neurotoxicity and contribute to neurodegeneration remain unconfirmed. Furthermore, the question of how strong and proven air pollutants are as substantial adverse factors for neurodegenerative disease etiologies remains unsolved. This review highlights research advances regarding the issue of PM with an emphasis on neurodegeneration markers, symptoms, and mechanisms by which air pollutants could mediate damage in the CNS. Poor air quality and insufficient knowledge regarding its toxicity justify conducting scientific investigations to understand the biological impact of PM in the context of various types of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Jankowska-Kieltyka
- Department of Brain Biochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Adam Roman
- Department of Brain Biochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Irena Nalepa
- Department of Brain Biochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
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Peters R, Mudway I, Booth A, Peters J, Anstey KJ. Putting Fine Particulate Matter and Dementia in the Wider Context of Noncommunicable Disease: Where are We Now and What Should We Do Next: A Systematic Review. Neuroepidemiology 2021; 55:253-265. [PMID: 34062541 DOI: 10.1159/000515394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A significant proportion of the global population regularly experience air quality poorer than that recommended by the World Health Organization. Air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is a risk factor for various noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and is emerging as a risk factor for dementia. To begin to understand the full impact of PM2.5, we review the longitudinal epidemiological evidence linking PM2.5 to both dementia and to other leading NCDs and highlight the evidence gaps. Our objective was to systematically review the current epidemiological evidence for PM2.5 as a risk factor for cognitive decline and incident dementia and to put this in context with a systematic overview of PM2.5 as a potential risk factor in other leading NCDs. METHODS We performed 2 systematic reviews. A high-level review of reviews examining the relationship between PM2.5 and leading NCDs and an in-depth review of the longitudinal epidemiological data examining relationships between PM2.5 incident dementia and cognitive decline. RESULTS There were robust associations between PM2.5 and NCDs although in some cases the evidence was concentrated on short rather than longer term exposure. For those articles reporting on incident dementia, all reported on longer term exposure and 5 of the 7 eligible articles found PM2.5 to be associated with increased risk. CONCLUSION The evidence base for PM2.5 as a risk factor for dementia is growing. It is not yet as strong as that for other NCDs. However, varied measurement/methodology hampers clarity across the field. We propose next steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Peters
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian Mudway
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Booth
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Jean Peters
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Kaarin J Anstey
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Dimakakou E, Johnston HJ, Streftaris G, Cherrie JW. Is Environmental and Occupational Particulate Air Pollution Exposure Related to Type-2 Diabetes and Dementia? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the UK Biobank. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17249581. [PMID: 33371391 PMCID: PMC7767456 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to particulate air pollution (e.g., PM2.5) can lead to adverse health effects, with compelling evidence that it can increase morbidity and mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. More recently, there has also been evidence that long-term environmental exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and dementia. There are many occupations that may expose workers to airborne particles and that some exposures in the workplace are very similar to environmental particulate pollution. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the UK Biobank cohort to verify the association between environmental particulate air pollution (PM2.5) exposure and T2DM and dementia, and to investigate if occupational exposure to particulates that are similar to those found in environmental air pollution could increase the odds of developing these diseases. The UK Biobank dataset comprises of over 500,000 participants from all over the UK. Environmental exposure variables were used from the UK Biobank. To estimate occupational exposure both the UK Biobank’s data and information from a job exposure matrix, specifically developed for UK Biobank (Airborne Chemical Exposure–Job Exposure Matrix (ACE JEM)), were used. The outcome measures were participants with T2DM and dementia. In appropriately adjusted models, environmental exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.02 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.03) per unit exposure for developing T2DM, while PM2.5 was associated with an odds ratio of 1.06 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.16) per unit exposure for developing dementia. These environmental results align with existing findings in the published literature. Five occupational exposures (dust, fumes, diesel, mineral, and biological dust in the most recent job estimated with the ACE JEM) were investigated and the risks for most exposures for T2DM and for all the exposures for dementia were not significantly increased in the adjusted models. This was confirmed in a subgroup of participants where a full occupational history was available allowed an estimate of workplace exposures. However, when not adjusting for gender, some of the associations become significant, which suggests that there might be a bias between the occupational assessments for men and women. The results of the present study do not provide clear evidence of an association between occupational exposure to particulate matter and T2DM or dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Dimakakou
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14-4AS, UK; (H.J.J.); (J.W.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Helinor J. Johnston
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14-4AS, UK; (H.J.J.); (J.W.C.)
| | - George Streftaris
- Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14-4AS, UK;
| | - John W. Cherrie
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14-4AS, UK; (H.J.J.); (J.W.C.)
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14-4AP, UK
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Antoniadou F, Papamitsou T, Kavvadas D, Kapoukranidou D, Sioga A, Papaliagkas V. Toxic Environmental Factors and their Association with the Development of Dementia: a Mini Review on Heavy Metals and Ambient Particulate Matter. Mater Sociomed 2020; 32:299-306. [PMID: 33628134 PMCID: PMC7879435 DOI: 10.5455/msm.2020.32.299-306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION More and more studies are trying to establish a connection between dementia and environmental pollution. Dementia, most commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease, is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that is directly associated to aging. Although the etiology of the disease is not fully understood, it is recognized as a multifactorial one. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of various forms of dementia. Both predisposing genes and environmental pollution have been shown to affect brain function through a variety of mechanisms. AIM The purpose of this bibliographic work is «ecological consciousness» of modern societies to be awaken, to identify the harmful environmental factors and to highlight their involvement in the causal pathogenesis of the most debated disease, dementia. METHODS Trying to achieve this aim, the available bibliography was reviewed and selected for further study. In particular, recent bibliographic data and scientific papers were selected, mainly from the last five years. The information was collected using the keywords "environmental pollution", " toxic agents" and "etiology of dementia", with particular emphasis on "Alzheimer's disease". The data were selected mainly from medical research databases. In particular, they were selected by PubMed, BioMed Central and Science Direct. CONCLUSION According to the results of this study, long-term exposure of individuals to pollutants may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, we must be cautious in our conclusions, as further reliable studies are needed to confirm the stated evidence. Among other things, health professionals are responsible for promoting health, preventing and encouraging lifestyle change, so that the progressively growing elderly population remains autonomous, healthy and active.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fevronia Antoniadou
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theodora Papamitsou
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitros Kavvadas
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Antonia Sioga
- Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasileios Papaliagkas
- International Hellenic University, Laboratory of Physiology, Sindos, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Iqubal A, Ahmed M, Ahmad S, Sahoo CR, Iqubal MK, Haque SE. Environmental neurotoxic pollutants: review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:41175-41198. [PMID: 32820440 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10539-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollutants are recognized as one of the major concerns for public health and responsible for various forms of neurological disorders. Some of the common sources of environmental pollutants related to neurotoxic manifestations are industrial waste, pesticides, automobile exhaust, laboratory waste, and burning of terrestrial waste. Among various environmental pollutants, particulate matter, ultrafine particulate matter, nanoparticles, and lipophilic vaporized toxicant (acrolein) easily cross the blood-brain barrier, activate innate immune responses in the astrocytes, microglia, and neurons, and exert neurotoxicity. Growing shreds of evidence from human epidemiological studies have correlated the environmental pollutants with neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, myelin sheath disruption, and alterations in the blood-brain barrier anatomy leading to cognitive dysfunction and poor quality of life. These environmental pollutants also considerably cause developmental neurotoxicity, exhibit teratogenic effect and mental growth retardance, and reduce IQ level. Until now, the exact mechanism of pollutant-induced neurotoxicity is not known, but studies have shown interference of pollutants with the endogenous antioxidant defense system, inflammatory pathway (Nrf2/NF-kB, MAPKs/PI3K, and Akt/GSK3β), modulation of neurotransmitters, and reduction in long-term potentiation. In the current review, various sources of pollutants and exposure to the human population, developmental neurotoxicity, and molecular mechanism of different pollutants involved in the pathogenesis of different neurological disorders have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashif Iqubal
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Musheer Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Shahnawaz Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Chita Ranjan Sahoo
- Central Research Laboratory, Institute of Medical Sciences & Sum Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751003, India
| | - Mohammad Kashif Iqubal
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Syed Ehtaishamul Haque
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India.
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He F, Tang JJ, Zhang T, Lin J, Li F, Gu X, Chen R. Impact of Air Pollution on Cognitive Impairment in Older People: A Cohort Study in Rural and Suburban China. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 77:1671-1679. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-200587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: The impact of air pollution on cognitive impairment in older people has not been fully understood. It is unclear which air pollutants are the culprit. Objective: We assessed the associations of six air pollutants and air quality index (AQI) with cognitive impairment. Methods: We examined 7,311 participants aged ≥60 years from the ZJMPHS cohort in China. They were interviewed for baseline socio-demographic and disease risk factors in 2014, and re-interviewed in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The presence of cognitive impairment was determined by the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Daily area-level data monitored for air pollution during 2013-2015 was then examined for associations with cognitive impairment in logistic regression models. Results: Over the two years follow-up, 1,652 participants developed cognitive impairment, of which 917 were severe cases. Continuous air pollution data showed the risk of cognitive impairment increased with exposure to PM2.5 (fully adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.08), PM10 (1.03, 1.001–1.06), and SO2 (1.04, 1.01–1.08), but not with NO2, CO, O3, and AQI. Categorized data analysis for low, middle, and high level exposure demonstrated that the aOR increased with PM2.5 and AQI, somehow with PM10 and CO, but not significantly with SO2 and NO2, and decreased with O3. The patterns for these associations with severe cognitive impairment were stronger. Conclusion: Lowering PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and CO level could reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in older Chinese. Strategies to target most important air pollutants should be an integral component of cognitive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan He
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - James J. Tang
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, UK
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junfen Lin
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fudong Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xue Gu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruoling Chen
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, UK
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