Researchers at the Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention report that fine particulate matter, specifically PM2.5, influences the balance between inflammatory and protective cholesterol in the bloodstream, and this effect appears even after brief exposure. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports and add a new layer to how air quality can impact heart-related risk factors.
Earlier investigations have linked PM2.5 exposure to higher rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cognitive decline among older adults. PM2.5 remains a crucial indicator when assessing air quality and its potential health consequences across communities.
In this latest analysis, researchers drew on data from nearly 197,000 individuals with an average age of 48 who underwent a comprehensive physical examination between 2015 and 2020. Participants who used cholesterol-lowering medications or who faced frequent occupational exposure to fine dust were not included, ensuring a clearer view of PM2.5’s independent association with lipid profiles.
The study found that short-term exposure to PM2.5 correlated with higher total cholesterol and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly labeled the “bad” cholesterol. Interestingly, exposure also aligned with lower triglyceride levels, a result that challenges some prior conclusions and invites further investigation into the underlying mechanisms and potential confounding factors.
The researchers suggest that the discrepancy in findings compared with earlier work may stem from the much larger sample size in this study. They emphasize that this represents the largest examination to date of the link between PM2.5 exposure and cholesterol metrics, underscoring the significance of population scale in environmental health research. Attribution: Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Scientific Reports.