| Title: | Associations of single and mixed air pollution exposure with lung function and incident pulmonary fibrosis: The mediation effect of low-grade inflammation |
| Journal: | Environmental Pollution |
| Published: | 3 Jun 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42242538/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128494 |
Publication 19791
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Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fatal disease with limited treatment options. However, few studies have analyzed the impact of air pollutants on both lung function and PF using multiple advanced methods, particularly from a mixed-exposure perspective. We conducted cross-sectional (n = 280,656 for lung function) and cohort (n = 372,833 for PF) studies using UK Biobank data. Associations were assessed using multiple regression models (linear and Cox). To evaluate the impact of mixed air pollution exposure, we employed weighted quantile sum (WQS) and quantile g-computation (QGC). The results showed significant association of PM2.5 with increased risk of PF (HR: 1.067, 95%CI: 1.034, 1.101), and decreased lung function. Multiple mixture exposure models consistently revealed a positive overall association between air pollution mixtures and PF risk (QGC: OR: 1.105, 95% CI: 1.062, 1.151; WQS: OR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.17). Sensitivity analysis revealed that non-smokers should be cautious about exposure to NO2. Cross-sectional mediation analysis suggested that low-grade inflammation levels may play a slight mediating role in the associations between exposure to certain air pollutants and both lung function and PF risk. Exposure to both single and mixed air pollution is significantly associated with an increased incidence risk of PF and decreased lung function. For lung function, air pollutant PM10 requires attention. For PF, air pollutant PM2.5 warrants equal attention, while the impact of air pollutant NO2 should not be overlooked either. Preventive strategies for the impact of air pollution on lung function and PF should be targeted to different genders and age groups.</p>
12 Authors
- Yue Fei
- Zengxu Shen
- Mengxin Tian
- Hanrui Liu
- Ziruo Cheng
- Xueshan Jin
- Shan Bao
- Zhenzhong Ge
- Haotian Xu
- Jian Feng
- Xiaoyu Zhou
- Xinyuan Zhao
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 1113991 | Identify the potential impacts of environmental factors on health outcomes. |
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