Does Air Pollution Lead to Higher Risk of Autoimmune Diseases?

Long-term exposure to polluted air significantly increases the risk of autoimmune diseases, a global review revealed.

Breathing in the dirty air day after day is linked to strokes, brain cancer, mental health problems, miscarriage, and rheumatoid arthritis, providing evidence that polluted air affects not only the lungs, but every organ in the body.

“According to the Global Burden of Disease estimates, one component of outdoor air pollution, fine particulate matter, or particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM), is the fifth leading risk factor for death in the world, accounting for 4.2 million deaths (7.6% of total global deaths) and more than 103 million disability-adjusted life years lost in 2015,” the authors explain.

Indoor air pollution too, is a hazard. “The World Health Organization reported that indoor air pollution from fires for cooking and heating accounted for 3.8 million deaths; this number ranged from 10% in low- and middle-income countries to 0.2% in high-income countries.”

Some of the research highlights include:

• Consistent high levels of air pollution are associated with a 40% higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a 20% higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, and a 15% higher risk of connective tissue diseases such as lupus.
• Athletes experience stressed ventilatory and cardiac reserves due to their increased ventilation and mouth breathing augments. Increased ambient air pollution is known to be associated with reduced marathon performance in women.
• Air pollution affects sleep in several ways, causing sleep apnea, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory or chronic diseases.
• Children are among the most susceptible group to air pollution for both environmental and biologic reasons. Long-term exposure to dirty air is associated with infant mortality, childhood asthma, postneonatal respiratory mortality, and limited lung function in adulthood.
• Air pollution affects pregnancy, too. Pregnant women exposed to polluted air may face higher risks of preterm birth, delivering low birth weight infants, preeclampsia, or premature rupture of membranes.
• Generally speaking, air pollution reduces fertility rates as well as increases the risk of miscarriage.

“Although air pollution affects people of all regions, ages, and social groups, it is likely to cause greater illness in those with heavy exposure and greater susceptibility,” the authors wrote. “Persons are more vulnerable to air pollution if they have other illnesses or less social support. Harmful effects occur on a continuum of dosage and even at levels below air quality standards previously considered to be safe.”

Reference:
Schraufnagel D, Balmes J, Cowl C et al. Air pollution and noncommunicable diseases. A review by the forum of International Respiratory Societies’ Environmental Committee, Part 1: The damaging effects of air pollution. Chest. 2019: 155(2); 409-416. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2018.10.042