Scientists from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health have discovered that exposure to polluted air can impair antibody production after a COVID-19 vaccine. The research was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Scientists analyzed data from 927 people aged between 40 and 65. All received one or two doses of the main COVID-19 vaccines distributed in Spain (manufactured by AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna).
People exposed to higher levels of air pollution before the pandemic had lower antibody levels after vaccination. Specifically, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide has been associated with an approximately 10 percent reduction in IgM and IgG antibody production in people who have not had a prior infection. The association between exposure to polluted air and the effectiveness of the vaccine was less clear in those recovering from the coronavirus.
Scientists have suggested that air pollution can cause chronic inflammation, which negatively affects the effectiveness of the vaccine.
The study did not look at whether a decrease in antibody response resulted in an increased risk and severity of immediate infection.