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

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.

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).

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 (10 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).

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.