Long-term exposure to airborne pollutants is associated with accelerated biological aging, according to recent research. The findings suggest that the connection between polluted air and higher risks of death and hospitalization can be explained in part by faster cellular aging. The study analyzed data from two large European cohorts, the UK Biobank and the Lifelines cohort from the Netherlands, totaling more than 338,000 participants. Researchers estimated each participant’s exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) based on their home addresses.
Study Design and Methods
The research team drew on the UK Biobank, which includes 309,467 participants, and the Lifelines cohort, with 29,146 participants. Biological aging was measured using established health markers that reflect the functional state of cells and systems, according to the study. The approach allowed investigators to examine whether biological aging mediated the well-known link between air pollution and adverse health outcomes.
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