Air pollution has long been associated with health problems such as respiratory diseases, and has more recently even been linked to psychotic experiences. New research now reinforces the theory that it may also cause osteoporosis.
For the recent study, scientists from Spain’s Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) assessed the outdoor air quality of 28 villages near the Indian city of Hyberabad. They were particularly interested in levels of suspended fine particulate matter and black carbon.
The researchers additionally analyzed the bone health of 3,717 residents of those villages. A technology known as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used, to measure bone mass at the lumbar spine and the left hip.
The data was gathered over a four-year period, from 2009 to 2012. During that time, residents also completed questionnaires regarding the type of indoor cooking fuel they used.
It was ultimately found that the villagers’ average annual exposure to airborne particles (measuring 2.5 micrometers or less) sat at 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter. This is far above the World Health Organisation’s maximum recommended level of 10 micrograms.
Importantly, it was also noted that the higher a village’s levels of outdoor air pollution, the lower its residents’ bone mineral content and mineral density tended to be. There was no correlation, however, between bone mass and the use of biomass such as wood for cooking fuel.
“This study contributes to the limited and inconclusive literature on air pollution and bone health,” says ISGlobal’s Dr. Otavio T. Ranzani, first author of a paper on the research. “Inhalation of polluting particles could lead to bone mass loss through the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by air pollution.”
The paper was recently published in the journal Jama Network Open.
-
RESPRO® MASKS
-
Pollution Masks since 1993 - The 'Original' and still the best - Made in the UK
-
THE AIR WE BREATHE
-
The Respro® Bulletin Board is designed to keep you up to date with current views and issues relating to Air Pollution and its health implications in our daily lives.
-
WATCH OUR ANIMATION
TOP POSTS AND PAGES
- Follow Respro® Bulletin Board on WordPress.com
-
LOCAL AIR QUALITY
-
Click the map to find out about current air quality levels where you live.
-
FOLLOW RESPRO®
-
WHY WEAR A MASK?
-
Essential features required of a mask to work properly: Why wear a mask?
-
For information on the products we provide please visit our website respro.com Respro® will ship your order of any product, any quantity to anywhere on the planet free of charge.
-
KEY POINTS TO A MASK
-
Three important points to look out for in an air pollution mask:
Key Points to a Mask -
SIZING GUIDE
-
-
TIME TO CHANGE YOUR FILTER?
-
THERE ARE FOUR RESPRO® FILTER TYPES
-
-
HOW TO CHANGE THE FILTER
-
-
BUY NEW FILTERS
-
-
RESPRO® ON INSTAGRAM
Air Pollution Air Quality Asthma Beijing Boris Johnson California Canada China Delhi Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) diesel exhaust fumes EU - European Union Europe forest fire France Germany HAZE Health Effects of Air Pollution India Indonesia Iran King's College London London London Mayor Malaysia Nitrogen Dioxide NO2 NOx Ozone O3 Paris PM - Particulate Matter PM2.5 PM10 Research Respro® Masks FAQ Respro® Products Scotland Singapore Smog Sulfur Dioxide SO2 Thailand UK USA vehicle emissions wildfires World Heath Organization (WHO)
-
CATEGORIES
- Africa
- Air Quality
- Allergies
- Asia
- Asthma
- Australia & Oceania
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Cycling
- Europe
- Exercise & Air Pollution
- France
- Germany
- Hayfever
- Health Effects of Air Pollution
- Help & FAQs
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Italy
- Japan
- Latin America
- London
- Malaysia
- Medical Studies
- Mexico
- Middle East
- Mongolia
- Philippines
- Poland
- Research on Air Pollution in the UK
- Respro® How To Videos
- Respro® Mask Reviews
- Respro® Masks
- Respro® Products
- Running
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sports
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- UK
- USA
- USA & Canada
- Vietnam
- World News
-