{"id":17351,"date":"2021-09-06T09:20:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T09:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/2021\/09\/06\/hong-kong-baptist-university-study-finds-strong-association-between-pm2-5-and-neurological-disorders\/"},"modified":"2021-09-06T09:20:00","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T09:20:00","slug":"hong-kong-baptist-university-study-finds-strong-association-between-pm2-5-and-neurological-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/2021\/09\/06\/hong-kong-baptist-university-study-finds-strong-association-between-pm2-5-and-neurological-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"Hong Kong Baptist University study finds strong association between PM2.5 and neurological disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

HONG KONG SAR –\u00a0Media OutReach<\/a>\u00a0– 6 September
\n2021 – A comprehensive, systematic meta-analysis conducted by HKBU scientists
\nfound a significant association between exposure
\nto PM2.5<\/sub>, i.e., fine particulates with equivalent diameters of less
\nthan 2.5 microns suspended in the air, and neurological disorders. These include
\nstroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and autism spectrum
\ndisorder (ASD)<\/b>. Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability
\nand the second leading cause of death worldwide, posing serious challenges to
\nglobal health.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Professor
\nKen Yung Kin-lam (right) and Dr Fu Pengfei, Postdoctoral Research Fellow of the
\nDepartment of Biology of HKBU, find a strong association between PM2.5<\/sub>
\nand a wide range of neurological disorders<\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

The paper with the study’s
\nfinding was published in the academic journal Science of the Total Environment<\/i><\/a>, and
\nhas become the top 1% highly-cited paper
\nworldwide by citation<\/b> in the field of Environment and Ecology, according to
\nEssential Science Indicators (ESI).<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Comprehensive study covers 26 countries or regions<\/b><\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

As systematic reviews and
\nmeta-analyses on the association between PM2.5<\/sub> exposure and
\nneurological disorders have been limited so far, the HKBU research team, led by
\nProfessor Ken Yung Kin-lam, Professor of
\nthe Department of Biology<\/b> of the University, analysed a total of 1,645
\narticles published by June 2018, and identi\ufb01ed 80 eligible studies that covered
\na population of more than 6.33 million from 26 countries or regions in all
\ncontinents except Antarctica. <\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Previous meta-analyses of a similar
\nnature covered at most seven countries, and nearly all of them were lightly
\npolluted. In contrast, HKBU’s study covered countries and regions known to have
\nmore serious air pollution problems, such as Chile, China and India.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

PM2.5<\/sub> exposure increases stroke risks<\/b><\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

After a series of statistical analyses
\nof the data published in the selected studies, the research team used odds
\nratio (OR) to represent the association between PM2.5<\/sub> exposure and
\nthe risk of different neurological disorders. Odds ratio, commonly used in
\npublic health analysis, is a measure of association between an exposure and an
\noutcome. An odds ratio value of 1 indicates that an exposure does not affect
\nodds of an outcome; a value of over 1 means an exposure is associated with
\nhigher odds of an outcome.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Analysis results of the
\nassociation between PM2.5<\/sub> exposure and stroke risks are tabulated as
\nbelow:<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n

PM2.5<\/sub> exposure<\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Risk of stroke<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(in odds ratio)<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Risk of stroke mortality<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(in odds ratio)<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

Short-term<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.01<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.02<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

Long-term<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.14<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.15<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

Lightly polluted areas<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.01<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.06<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

Heavily polluted areas<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.02<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Data not available<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

The results revealed that exposure to PM2.5<\/sub> in general increases
\nthe risks of stroke and stroke mortality, with the risk associated with long-term
\nexposure more significant than with short-term exposure<\/b>. It also showed
\nthat the risk of stroke in heavily
\npolluted areas is higher than that in lightly polluted areas<\/b>.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Neurological disorders strongly associated with PM2.5<\/sub>
\nexposure<\/b><\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Analysis results of the
\nassociation between PM2.5<\/sub> exposure and the risks of developing other
\nneurological disorders are presented as below:<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n

Neurological disorders<\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Risk <\/b>(in odds ratio)<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

Alzheimer’s disease<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3.26<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

ASD<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.68<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

Parkinson’s disease<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.34<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

Dementia<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.16<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n


\n <\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

The results revealed that PM2.5<\/sub> exposure is strongly
\nassociated with increased risks of Alzheimer’s disease, ASD, Parkinson’s
\ndisease and dementia<\/b>.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

PM2.5<\/sub> is typically
\nmade up of heavy metals, organic carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
\nsuspended in the air. According to studies, some of the tiny particles and
\nsoluble components can enter the bloodstream by many pathways, such as crossing
\nthe blood-brain barrier and gaining access to the central nervous system. These
\nparticles can induce in\ufb02ammation, death of cells and DNA damage. <\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Call to improve air quality for public health’s sake<\/b><\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

“While various hypotheses were
\nsuggested on the underlying mechanisms of how PM2.5<\/sub> causes different
\ntypes of neurological disorders, it remains an area with many unknowns for
\nbiomedical scientists to explore. More vigorous research endeavours are
\nrequired before we can fully understand the mechanisms, based on which we can
\nformulate effective environmental and public health strategies in response,” said
\nProfessor Yung.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Tomorrow (7 September) will be
\nthe 2nd International Day of Clean Air for blue
\nskies<\/b><\/a> designated by the United Nations General Assembly, with the theme
\n“Healthy Air, Healthy Planet”,<\/b> which
\nemphasises the health effects of air pollution.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

“The International Day of
\nClean Air for blue skies reminds us of the urgency for national governments and
\nthe international community to collaborate and take swift, effective actions to
\nimprove air quality, given its extensive health implications. Our study made it
\nclear that PM2.5<\/sub> exposure, a typical indicator of air pollution, is closely
\nassociated with many neurological disorders, and thus improving air quality
\nwill be a direct response to this public health challenge,” said Professor Yung.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HONG KONG SAR –\u00a0Media OutReach\u00a0– 6 September 2021 – A comprehensive, systematic meta-analysis conducted by HKBU scientists found a significant association between exposure to PM2.5, i.e., fine particulates with equivalent diameters of less than 2.5 microns suspended in the air, and neurological disorders. These include stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and autism spectrum disorder …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[60],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17351"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eodishasamachar.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}