Chronic exposure to air pollutants may increase lupus risk, research shows

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

New research published in Arthritis & Rheumatology indicates that chronic exposure to air pollutants may increase the risk of developing lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs.

For the study, investigators analyzed data on 459,815 participants from the UK Biobank. A total of 399 lupus cases were identified during a median follow-up of 11.77 years. Air pollutant exposure was linked with a greater likelihood of developing lupus. Individuals with a high genetic risk and high air pollution exposure had the highest risk of developing lupus compared with those with low genetic risk and low air pollution exposure.

“Our study provides crucial insights into the air pollution contributing to autoimmune diseases. The findings can inform the development of stricter air quality regulations to mitigate exposure to harmful pollutants, thereby reducing the risk of lupus.” – Yaohua Tian, PhD, co-corresponding author of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, in China

Chronic exposure to air pollutants may increase lupus risk, research shows

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Air pollution linked to a decrease in IVF birth rate success, new study shows

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A pioneering study, presented at the ESHRE 40th Annual Meeting in Amsterdam, has revealed that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) prior to the retrieval of oocytes (eggs) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) can reduce the odds of achieving a live birth by almost 40%.

The study analyzed PM10 exposure in the two weeks leading up to oocyte collection, finding that the odds of a live birth decreased by 38% (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.89, p=0.010) when comparing the highest quartile of exposure (18.63 to 35.42 µg/m3) to the lowest quartile (7.08 to 12.92 µg/m3). The study abstract was published in Human Reproduction.

Conducted over an eight-year period in Perth, Australia, the research analyzed 3,659 frozen embryo transfers from 1,836 patients. The median female age was 34.5 years at the time of oocyte retrieval and 36.1 years at the time of frozen embryo transfer.

The study examined air pollutant concentrations over four exposure periods prior to oocyte retrieval (24 hours, two weeks, four weeks, and three months), with models created to account for co-exposures.

Increasing PM2.5 exposure in the three months prior to oocyte retrieval was also associated with decreased odds of live birth, falling from 0.90 (95% CI 0.70–1.15) in the second quartile to 0.66 (95% CI 0.47–0.92) in the fourth quartile.

Importantly, the negative impact of air pollution was observed despite excellent overall air quality during the study period, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines on just 0.4% and 4.5% of the study days, respectively.

Dr. Sebastian Leathersich, lead author of the study, explains, “This is the first study that has used frozen embryo transfer cycles to separately analyze the effects of pollutant exposure during the development of eggs and around the time of embryo transfer and early pregnancy. We could therefore evaluate whether pollution was having an effect on the eggs themselves, or on the early stages of pregnancy.”

“Our results reveal a negative linear association between particulate matter exposure during the two weeks and three months prior to oocyte collection and subsequent live birth rates from those oocytes. This association is independent of the air quality at the time of frozen embryo transfer.

“These findings suggest that pollution negatively affects the quality of the eggs, not just the early stages of pregnancy, which is a distinction that has not been previously reported.”

Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health and is estimated to cause over 4 million premature deaths per year worldwide. Exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with a range of adverse health conditions, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

In 2021, 97% of the urban EU population was exposed to concentrations of PM2.5 above the WHO annual guideline (5 µg (microgram) /m3). Although epidemiological data show a clear correlation between pollution and poorer reproductive outcomes, the mechanisms remain unclear.

Dr. Leathersich explains, “Climate change and pollution remain the greatest threats to human health, and human reproduction is not immune to this. Even in a part of the world with exceptional air quality, where very few days exceed the internationally accepted upper limits for pollution, there is a strong negative correlation between the amount of air pollution and the live birth rate in frozen embryo transfer cycles. Minimizing pollutant exposure must be a key public health priority.”

Professor Dr. Anis Feki, Chair-Elect of ESHRE, comments, “This important study highlights a significant link between air pollution and lower IVF success rates, with a notable reduction in live births associated with higher particulate matter exposure before oocyte retrieval. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing attention to environmental factors in reproductive health.”

Air pollution linked to a decrease in IVF birth rate success, new study shows

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Study reveals fireworks’ impact on air quality

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

As Independence Day approaches, Utahns are preparing to celebrate the nation’s birth with dazzling displays of light and color. However, a new BYU study published in Applied Geochemistry warns that these festivities come with an often-overlooked hazard: increased air pollution.

The study, led by BYU geology professor Greg Carling, reveals alarming details about the particulate matter that is released into the air when fireworks explode.

Particulate matter is a mixture of microscopic pieces of dust, trace metals, smoke, liquid droplets and other pollutants. Small particles such as PM2.5 pose the greatest threat to human health because they are easily inhaled and can get deep into the lungs.

Carling’s research notes that the largest contributors of particulate matter along the Wasatch Front are mineral dust, winter inversion and Utah’s beloved fireworks.

“We know we’re breathing in these particles that are unhealthy during firework events, dust storms, or winter inversions,” said Carling. “But what’s actually in the particulate matter? No one really knew before this study.”

Over two years, Carling and students monitored air samplers with filters collecting various sizes of particulate matter, including the notorious health hazard PM2.5. They measured the concentration of trace metals in particulate matter over time.

Their findings show that metal pollution in particulate matter peaks during January and July, coinciding with winter inversions and summer fireworks. Fireworks emit high levels of barium and copper, while arsenic, cadmium, lead, and thallium were prevalent in the inversion smog.

Prolonged exposure to these substances can cause various health problems, ranging from asthma to cardiovascular disease. Despite strict drinking water standards in Utah, similar air quality standards for these metals do not currently exist.

“We know a bit about the acute problems that elements such as lead cause,” said Carling. “But then there are the chronic problems we don’t know about, and that probably should make people think, “Oh, so what’s actually harmful and how do we figure out what’s harmful?'”

Carling emphasized that any concentration of particulate matter is hazardous to human health and the environment. “Metals are really good at moving around from the atmosphere into the soil, into the water and into our food,” warned Carling. “And they’re persistent, meaning that they don’t really go away—they just keep cycling through the system.”

Any firework that produces smoke or colored light significantly contributes to Utah’s air pollution, particularly given the two major firework holidays in July.

But Carling is optimistic that increased awareness will lead to better decision-making and solutions. He recommends that individuals take advantage of city firework displays and avoid personal pyrotechnic shows. Exercising indoors during periods of poor air quality or getting away from the city can reduce the amount of toxins breathed in.

Additionally, Carling’s research can be utilized by policymakers to limit the types and quantities of fireworks used and to support further research into the health effects of trace metal pollution.

“It’s great when research leads toward legislation that can help improve things,” stated Carling. “Sometimes it’s just a paper that gets published and a few scientists read it. But other times, it gets picked up and used to create real solutions.”

Study reveals fireworks’ impact on air quality

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Ultrafine particles from planes put 52 million Europeans at risk of serious health conditions

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A new study by green group Transport & Environment (T&E) suggests that thousands of cases of high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia across Europe could be linked to the tiny particles emitted by planes.

52 million people – more than 10% of Europe’s total population – live within a 20km radius from the 32 busiest airports in Europe and are particularly exposed to ultrafine particles from aviation, new research by CE Delft and commissioned by T&E finds [1],[2]. In Paris, one of the cities included in the study, 8 million people are affected by its two main airports Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The exposure to ultrafine particles can be linked to the development of serious and long-term health conditions, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular effects and pregnancy issues.

Exposure to ultrafine particles may be associated with 280,000 cases of high blood pressure, 330,000 cases of diabetes, and 18,000 cases of dementia in Europe, according to the new research. The study extrapolated reported cases of these illnesses around Amsterdam Schiphol airport and gives the first ever estimate of health effects linked to aviation-related UFPs in Europe.

Ultrafine particles are particularly concerning because they penetrate deeply into the human body and have been found in the blood, brain and placenta. UFPs are below the size of 100 nanometres in diameter – approximately 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. To date, there is no regulation on safe levels of UFPs in the air, even though the WHO warned it was a pollutant of emerging concern over 15 years ago.

UFPs from planes are emitted at high altitude but also at take-off and landing meaning residents living near airports are particularly affected. People living in a 5km radius from an airport breathe in air that contains, on average, anything from 3,000 to 10,000 ultrafine particles per cm3 emitted by aircraft. In many cities, a correlation exists between people living near an airport and lower incomes. This shows once again that the most vulnerable in society are most affected by air pollution.

Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs, a UK-based campaign group on air pollution, “First we had the problem of air pollution from roads, then we had wood burning stoves, and now we are becoming aware of another invisible danger affecting everyone’s health. We know that air pollution is the biggest public health crisis and particularly affects children, babies and older people. These tiny particles are known to penetrate every organ of the body, including the placenta. Most people have no choice over where airports are sited or how big they are, and often this pollution is being created by planes carrying passengers from all around the world”.

Using ‘better quality’ jet fuel, though, can reduce UFPs by up to 70%, the study finds. The amount of UFPs emitted from planes depends largely on the composition of the fuel. The cleaner the aviation fuel, the less pollution it generates when burnt. Cleaning this fuel happens through a process called hydrotreatment [3]. It has been used for decades to remove sulphur from fuels for cars and ships fuels and could cost less than five cents per liter of fuel. But jet fuel standards for planes have never been improved, even though it can significantly reduce air pollution around airports.

Other measures to reduce UFPs and improve air quality include reducing air traffic and aviation’s exponential growth, as well as using cleaner technologies like sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and zero-emission aircraft that release much fewer pollutants.

“It’s not often that an alarming problem affecting millions of people can be reduced, and at a low cost. Dirty fumes caused by planes can be drastically reduced if we clean up the fuel. The sector prides itself with cutting-edge technology and so-called efficient planes, yet continues to use fuels which have a devastating impact on the health of millions of Europeans. It’s time for the EU to set jet fuel quality standards for the sake of the climate and people’s health”, Carlos Lopez de la Osa, aviation technical manager at T&E, concludes.

UFPs are part of the so-called “non-CO2 emissions” from planes, which include many other toxic pollutants, both gases and particles, such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide. Although these pollutants do not fall within the scope of the study, they also have known health effects that add to the ones previously described. These emissions also have a harmful effect on climate, making aviation’s contribution to global warming at least twice as bad as commonly thought. For example, the formation of contrails – the white lines criss-crossing the sky behind planes, with a significant warming effect – is also related to UFP emissions. Reducing UFP emissions through better quality jet fuel would not only be beneficial for the population living near airports, but also for the planet.

Ultrafine particles from planes put 52… | Transport & Environment
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Study suggests that air pollution promotes inflammation in the brain, accelerating consequences for dementia

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Levels of air pollution and road traffic noise levels of nurses from the Danish Nurse Cohort at the cohort baseline aggregated at the municipality level. Credit: Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024). DOI: 10.1002/alz.13814

Results from a new study suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution leads to increased risk in dementia in Denmark.

“We also find association with noise, but this seems to be explained by air pollution primarily. Our study is in line with growing international knowledge on this topic,” says Professor at Section of Environmental Health Zorana Jovanovic Andersen.

This is an important finding that adds that air pollution, beyond well-known effects on respiratory and cardiovascular system, also has major impacts on our brain, promoting inflammation in the brain, accelerating cognitive decline, and increasing risk of dementia.

“This is the first study in Denmark showing a link between air pollution and dementia. Although air pollution levels in Denmark have been declining and are relatively low, compared of the rest of Europe and world, this study shows that there are still significant and concerning health effects that demand more action and policies towards reduction of air pollution.

“As we are going to live longer, and more and more people will be diagnosed with dementia, this finding is important as it offer an opportunity to prevent new dementia cases, and ensure more healthy aging, by cleaning up the air we breathe,” says Andersen.

The study followed a cohort of nurses for 27 years, from 1993 until 2020.

“This is internationally unique and necessary in regards of the development of dementia which can take many years. Second, the air pollution was estimated for each participant for a total of 41 years (from 1979 until 2020), which is also incredible. Third, we had extensive details about participant’s lifestyle and socio-economics and all our result take them in consideration.

“The novelty of this study is the very detailed and accurate data that we used,” says Research Assistant from Section of Environmental Health Stéphane Tuffier.

“Nurses with higher physical activity had a lower risk of dementia when exposed to air pollution compared to nurses with less physical activity. This indicates that physical activity might mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution on cognitive decline and risk of dementia,” Tuffier says.

More information: Stéphane Tuffier et al, Long‐term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise and incidence of dementia in the Danish Nurse Cohort, Alzheimer’s & Dementia (2024). DOI: 10.1002/alz.13814

Journal information: Alzheimer’s & Dementia 

Provided by University of Copenhagen 

Study suggests that air pollution promotes inflammation in the brain, accelerating consequences for dementia

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West Midlands air pollution causing up to 2,300 early deaths each year, research suggests

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

Percentage of mortality attributable to air pollution in the West Midlands combined Authority. Credit: Environmental Pollution (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123871

Every resident of the West Midlands lives in an area exceeding the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines, and air pollution in the region is causing up to 2,300 premature deaths each year according to new research.

The study published in Environmental Pollution conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with local authority partners looked at the health economic burden of air pollution on residents in the West Midlands Combined Authority geographical area.

The team from WM-Air—Clean Air Science for the West Midlands—developed a new air quality analysis tool and, using data from 2019, found that every ward in the WMCA area exceeded WHO safe levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM2.5), and the annual health burden included up to:

  • 2,300 deaths,
  • 4,200 asthma diagnoses,
  • 1,400 coronary heart disease (CHD) diagnoses,
  • 300 lung cancer diagnoses, and
  • 1,000 stroke cases

The economic benefit of bringing air quality in the WMCA area to WHO health-based levels was also calculated using the tool, with a potential £3.2bn of economic benefits over 20 years.

The benefits include reduced health care and social care demand, improved productivity; and the prevention of up to 12,000 deaths, 50,000 asthma, 15,000 CHD, 2,400 lung cancer, and 10,000 stroke diagnoses. These financial calculations are based on new cases potentially connected to air pollution, and do not account for existing cases of these diseases.

Dr. Suzanne Bartington, clinical associate professor in environmental health at the University of Birmingham and senior author of the study said, “Air pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing public health, and our data shows that every resident in the West Midlands lives in a ward where the air quality doesn’t meet WHO health-based guidelines. The impacts for the region are significant, both in poorer health outcomes for residents and the extra burden on our health services.

“Our new Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment Tool has enabled us to put stark numbers to these impacts, showing us that more than 2000 people die each year prematurely due to air pollution across the region.”

Dr. James Hall, health economist in the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the paper said, “The results show some of the many benefits associated with tackling nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in the region including a potential £3.2bn of health-related economic benefit including to the health system, the broader economy and the public via reducing the rates of asthma, lung cancer, strokes, coronary heart disease and mortality.

“We also know that there is a potential link between air pollution and increased risk of developing other major chronic diseases including COPD and types of dementia, so the impact is likely to be even higher.”

Roy Harrison, professor of environmental health at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study, said, “These data provide an important baseline for the health impacts of air pollution in the West Midlands region. Relative to 2019, we know that there have been some improvements in air quality and they will have reduced the attributable burden on the region’s health.

“Initiatives such as the Clean Air Zone, introduced in 2021, have had an impact on the amount of NO2 pollution in the city center, which is a relatively small geographical area. Across the region as a whole, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter pollution is still a significant problem which we need to tackle with urgency.”

More information: James Hall et al, Regional impact assessment of air quality improvement: The air quality lifecourse assessment tool (AQ-LAT) for the West Midlands combined authority (WMCA), Environmental Pollution (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123871

Journal information: Environmental Pollution 

Provided by University of Birmingham 

West Midlands air pollution causing up to 2,300 early deaths each year, research suggests

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Study shows link between air pollution, stress, and heart health risk

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A study in more than 3,000 US counties, with 315 million residents, has suggested that air pollution is linked with stress and depression, putting under-65-year-olds at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The research is presented today at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

“Our study indicates that the air we breathe affects our mental well-being, which in turn impacts heart health.” – Dr. Shady Abohashem, study lead author of Harvard Medical School, Boston, US

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019. Mental illness has also been linked with premature death. This study examined whether air pollution and poor mental health are interrelated and have a joint impact on death from cardiovascular disease.

The study focused on particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, also referred to as fine particles or PM2.5. They come from vehicle exhaust fumes, power plant combustion, and burning wood, and present the highest health risk. To conduct the study, county-level data on annual PM2.5 levels were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).4 PM2.5 exposure was categorized as high or low according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The researchers gathered data on the average number of days (age-standardised) that county residents experienced mental health issues-;including stress, depression, and emotional problems-;from the CDC. Each county was then categorized into three groups based on these numbers. Counties in the top third reported the most days of poor mental health (PMH).4 Age-adjusted premature cardiovascular mortality rates (under 65 years of age) per county, were obtained from the CDC. County characteristics were sourced from the County Health Rankings project.

The study included 3,047 US counties, representing 315,720,938 residents (with over 207 million aged 20 to 64 years and 50% females) in 2013. Between 2013 and 2019, some 1,079,656 (0.34%) participants died from cardiovascular disease before the age of 65 years. The researchers analyzed the associations between pollution, mental health, and premature cardiovascular mortality after adjusting for factors that could influence the relationships.

Counties with dirty air (high PM2.5 concentrations) were 10% more likely to report high levels of PMH days compared to counties with clean air (low PM2.5 concentrations). That risk was markedly greater in counties with a high prevalence of minority groups or poverty. The link between PMH and premature cardiovascular mortality was strongest in counties with higher levels (above WHO recommended levels: ≥10 µm2) of air pollution. In these counties, higher levels of PMH were associated with a three-fold increase in premature cardiovascular mortality compared to lower PMH levels. Further, one-third of the pollution-related risk of premature cardiovascular deaths was explained by increased burden of PMH.

Dr. Abohashem said: “Our results reveal a dual threat from air pollution: it not only worsens mental health but also significantly amplifies the risk of heart-related deaths associated with poor mental health. Public health strategies are urgently needed to address both air quality and mental wellbeing in order to preserve cardiovascular health.”

The levels of pollution across ESC countries can be viewed in the ESC Atlas of Cardiology:https://eatlas.escardio.org/Data/Risk-factors/Enviromental-risk-factors/rf_avpmpol-average-annual-population-weighted-pm2-5-ug-m3.Source:European Society of Cardiology

Study shows link between air pollution, stress, and heart health risk

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Study links air pollution to increased colorectal cancer risk through DNA changes

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Respro® UK Ltd

A recent eBioMedicine study explores the association between air pollution and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk based on epigenomic analysis. 

The role of air pollution in CRC risk

CRC is one of the most common cancer types worldwide, whose etiology is associated with a wide range of lifestyle and environmental factors. In the context of environmental factors, ambient air pollution is particularly crucial, as it could lead to the development of cancer by affecting the inflammatory system.

A significant association between particulate matter (PM) and risk of CRC, gastrointestinal and liver cancer incidence, and mortality has been documented. Thus, it is imperative to understand the mechanism through which PM influences the incidence of CRC. The synergistic effect of PM with other air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, on the incidence of CRC also requires further investigation.

Emerging epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have highlighted that exposure to air pollution leads to an alteration in epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm). This alteration induces inflammation that could increase the risk of disease development and progression.

The formation of 5-methylcytosine in cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides that reflect aberrant DNAm has been identified as an important epigenetic mechanism in CRC carcinogenesis. Considering this finding, it is crucial to understand the role of air pollution in the altered DNAm, which is associated with CRC pathogenesis.

Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is a powerful tool for identifying causal interferences. It uses genetic variants as proxies for air pollution-related DNAm exposure to identify the causal factor. One major advantage of this method is minimizing reverse causality and confounding factors.

About the study

The current prospective cohort study evaluated the relationship between individual and combined ambient air pollution exposures with CRC risk and overall mortality. It also assessed the pathological effects associated with air pollution-related DNAm and the gene-environment interaction.

The association between air pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5, and nitrogen oxides (NOx and NO2), and CRC incidence and survival were assessed using relevant samples from the United Kingdom Biobank (UKB) cohort. Both genotypic and phenotypic health-related data were obtained from the UKB.

Two-sample epigenetic MR methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) analyses were conducted to identify the underlying mechanism of air pollution-related DNAm. Gene-environment interaction and genetic colocalization analyses were performed to elucidate the potential carcinogenic effect of air pollutants on CRC manifestation.

Study findings

A total of 428,632 participants from UKB were considered, 2,401 of whom were diagnosed with CRC and were eligible for the current study. Among these individuals, 533 all-cause deaths and 767 newly diagnosed CRC cases were identified. To determine all-cause mortality among patients with CRC, those with a prior CRC diagnosis were considered.

Consistent with previous studies, the current study also indicated a positive correlation between PM2.5 exposure and elevated CRC risk. The newly developed Air Pollutants Exposure Score (APES) indicated that exposure to various air pollutants, individually or jointly, decreased the overall CRC survival rate in a dose-response manner.

The detrimental prognostic effects of air pollution were more prevalent, although not statistically significant, among men, smokers, and those with insufficient physical activities. Thus, altering certain lifestyle factors could reduce the risk of CRC.

A significant association between air pollution and CRC incidence/survival was observed. DNA methylation occurred within the protein-coding genes of transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif-containing 1 protein (TMBIM1)/paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia (PNKD), CX-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5), and transmembrane protein 110 (TMEM110), which mediate the adverse effects of air pollution on CRC. The experimental findings strongly indicated an overall detrimental effect of air pollution exposure on CRC development and prognosis.

Air pollution mediates the development of CRC through the systemic inflammatory pathway, which is associated with increased messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin production, and blood proinflammatory activity.

The gene-environment interaction analyses indicated that PM2.5 exposure affects the CpG site rs876961 of the TMBIM1/PNKD gene, which influences CRC survival. Long-term PM2.5 exposure has also been associated with increased C-reactive protein levels and the induction of a systemic inflammatory state.

The PM2.5-related CpG site cg16235962 was associated with the CXCR5 gene, which encodes for a vital inflammatory factor in the microenvironment. PM2.5-related CpG site cg16947394 has been associated with the TMBIM1 gene, whereas the presence of rs992157 in the intron of PNKD and TMBIM1s is significantly associated with progression and susceptibility to CRC.

Conclusions

The current study confirmed the detrimental effect of ambient air pollution on CRC risk and survival, as well as the effect of epigenetic alterations of TMBIM1/PNKD, CXCR5, and TMEM110 on CRC pathogenesis. Future studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which epigenetic alterations cause CRC development. Notably, the current study identified some modifiable factors, such as physical activity, smoking, and air pollution, which can help prevent CRC.

Journal reference:

  • Jiang, F., Zhao, J., Sun, J., et al. (2024) Impact of ambient air pollution on colorectal cancer risk and survival: insights from a prospective cohort and epigenetic Mendelian randomization study. eBioMedicine. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105126.
Study links air pollution to increased colorectal cancer risk through DNA changes

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