J Prev Med Public Health.
2015 May;48(3):151-169. 10.3961/jpmph.15.014.
Physical Activity- and Alcohol-dependent Association Between Air Pollution Exposure and Elevated Liver Enzyme Levels: An Elderly Panel Study
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ychong1@snu.ac.kr
- 2Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Seoul Metropolitan Institute of Public Health and Environment, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 5Environmental Health Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- KMID: 2381464
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.15.014
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The deleterious effects of air pollution on various health outcomes have been demonstrated. However, few studies have examined the effects of air pollution on liver enzyme levels.
METHODS
Blood samples were drawn up to three times between 2008 and 2010 from 545 elderly individuals who regularly visited a community welfare center in Seoul, Korea. Data regarding ambient air pollutants (particulate matter < or =2.5 mum [PM2.5], nitrogen dioxide [NO2], ozone [O3], carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide) from monitoring stations were used to estimate air pollution exposure. The effects of the air pollutants on the concentrations of three liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase [gamma-GTP)]) were evaluated using generalized additive and linear mixed models.
RESULTS
Interquartile range increases in the concentrations of the pollutants showed significant associations of PM2.5 with AST (3.0% increase, p=0.0052), ALT (3.2% increase, p=0.0313), and gamma-GTP (5.0% increase, p=0.0051) levels; NO2 with AST (3.5% increase, p=0.0060) and ALT (3.8% increase, p=0.0179) levels; and O3 with gamma-GTP (5.3% increase, p=0.0324) levels. Significant modification of these effects by exercise and alcohol consumption was found (p for interaction <0.05). The effects of air pollutants were greater in non-exercisers and heavy drinkers.
CONCLUSIONS
Short-term exposure to air pollutants such as PM2.5, NO2, and O3 is associated with increased liver enzyme levels in the elderly. These adverse effects can be reduced by exercising regularly and abstinence from alcohol.
Keyword
MeSH Terms
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Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Air Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity
Alanine Transaminase/blood
*Alcohol Drinking
Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood
Environmental Exposure
*Exercise
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Liver/*drug effects/enzymology
Male
Nitrogen Dioxide/chemistry/toxicity
Ozone/chemistry/toxicity
Particulate Matter/analysis/toxicity
Sulfur Dioxide/chemistry/toxicity
gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood
Air Pollutants
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Nitrogen Dioxide
Ozone
Particulate Matter
Sulfur Dioxide
gamma-Glutamyltransferase
