Association between exposure to air pollution and blood lipids in the general population of Spain

Background and aims: We aimed to assess the associations of exposure to air pollutants and standard and advanced lipoprotein measures, in a nationwide sample representative of the adult population of Spain.

Methods: We included 4647 adults (>18 years), participants in the national, cross-sectional, population-based di@bet.es study, conducted in 2008-2010. Standard lipid measurements were analysed on an Architect C8000 Analyzer (Abbott Laboratories SA). Lipoprotein analysis was made by an advanced ¹ H-NMR lipoprotein test (Liposcale®). Participants were assigned air pollution concentrations for particulate matter <10 μm (PM₁₀ ), <2.5 μm (PM_2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂ ), corresponding to the health examination year, obtained by modelling combined with measurements taken at air quality stations (CHIMERE chemistry-transport model).

Results: In multivariate linear regression models, each IQR increase in PM₁₀ , PM_2.5 and NO₂ was associated with 3.3%, 3.3% and 3% lower levels of HDL-c and 1.3%, 1.4% and 1.1% lower HDL particle (HDL-p) concentrations (p < .001 for all associations). In multivariate logistic regression, there was a significant association between PM₁₀ , PM_2.5 and NO₂ concentrations and the odds of presenting low HDL-c (<40 mg/dL), low HDL-p (<p25) and higher LDL particle (LDL-p) concentrations (≥p75). In subgroup analyses there were stronger associations between PM₁₀ and NO₂ and low HDL-p in men (p for interaction .008 and .034), and between NO₂ and low HDL-p in individuals with obesity (p for interaction .015).

Conclusions: Our study shows an association between the exposure to air pollutants and blood lipids in the general population of Spain, suggesting a link to atherosclerosis.