Long-term air pollution exposure and serum lipids and blood sugar: A longitudinal cohort study from the electricity generating authority of Thailand study

Only a few studies have investigated the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and alterations of serum lipids and blood sugar level in developing countries. The present longitudinal study examined associations between long-term air pollution exposure and serum lipids [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)] and fasting glucose (FG) in workers of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in the Bangkok metropolitan region (BMR) of Thailand. We performed secondary analyses using the data obtained from 1,839 participants (mean age, 58.3 years as of 2002) of the EGAT1 cohort study (2002-2012). The average concentration of each air pollutants (PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO) at the sub-district level in BMR from 2002 to 2012 were estimated using the ordinary kriging method. Exposure periods were averaged to 3 months prior to laboratory testing. Linear mixed effects models were used to estimate associations between air pollution and serum lipids and blood sugar. After controlling for potential confounders, an interquartile range increment of PM10, SO2, and CO was associated with elevated LDL-C [6.6% (95%CI: 4.3, 9.0), 11.1% (7.2, 15.2), and 1.9% (1.1, 2.7), respectively] and FG [2.8% (1.5, 4.2), 6.8% (4.5, 9.1), and 1.1% (0.6, 1.5), respectively]. In addition, PM10, SO2, and CO were inversely associated with HDL-C [-1.8% (-3.7, 0.1), -3.3% (-6.2, -0.3), and -1.1 (-1.7, -0.5), respectively]. O3 was negatively associated with TC, LDL-C, TG, and FG. These findings suggest inhalation of air pollutants may increase the risk of impaired metabolism of glucose and lipids.

Automated summary

The study found that long-term exposure to PM10, SO2, and CO air pollutants may lead to elevated LDL-C and fasting glucose levels, while O3 is negatively associated with total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, and fasting glucose levels.