The Association Between Long-term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Bone Strength in China.

CONTEXT: Evidence regarding the association of long-term exposure to air pollution on bone strength or osteoporosis is rare, especially in highly polluted low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about whether the association between air pollution and bone strength changes at different bone strength distributions.

OBJECTIVE

Using the baseline data from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort, we investigated the association between long-term air pollution exposure and bone strength.

METHODS

We used multiple linear models to estimate the association between air pollution and bone strength, and we conducted quantile regression models to investigate the variation of this association in the distribution of bone strength. The 3-year concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 for each participant were assessed using spatial statistical models. Bone strength was expressed by the calcaneus quantitative ultrasound index (QUI) measured by quantitative ultrasound, with higher QUI values indicating greater bone strength.

RESULTS

A total of 66 598 participants were included. Our analysis shows that every 10 μg/m3 increase in 3-year average PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 was associated with -5.38 units (95% CI: -6.17, -4.60), -1.89 units (95% CI: -2.33, -1.44), -0.77 units (95% CI: -1.08, -0.47), and -2.02 units (95% CI: -2.32, -1.71) changes in the QUI, respectively. In addition, populations with higher bone strength may be more susceptible to air pollution.

CONCLUSION

Long-term exposure to PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 was significantly associated with decreased bone strength in southwestern China adults. Air pollution exposure has a more substantial adverse effect on bones among populations with higher bone strength.