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Causal relationship between air pollution and infections: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Shengyi Yang1, Tong Tong1, Hong Wang1

  • 1Department of Infection Control, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Frontiers in Public Health
|August 16, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Air pollution, including particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides, is linked to increased risks of COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonia. This study used Mendelian randomization to establish these causal relationships, highlighting the need for pollution reduction policies.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Epidemiology
  • Genetic Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Traditional observational studies on air pollution and infections face limitations like small sample sizes and confounding factors.
  • Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a robust approach to investigate causal links, overcoming limitations of observational studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential causal relationships between specific air pollutants (PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide) and the risk of various infections using MR.
  • To address confounding factors inherent in traditional observational study designs.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from the UK Biobank for air pollution-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
  • Obtained summary data for infections from the FinnGen Biobank and the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative.
  • Employed inverse variance weighted (IVW) meta-analysis as the primary MR method, with weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO for complementary analyses.

Main Results:

  • Suggestive associations were found between PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and nitrogen oxides with an increased risk of COVID-19.
  • PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10, and nitrogen oxides were suggestively associated with an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia.
  • Nitrogen dioxide showed a suggestive association with the risk of acute upper respiratory infections; no associations were found with intestinal infections.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support a role for air pollution in the development of COVID-19, bacterial pneumonia, and acute upper respiratory infections.
  • Further research and policy interventions are necessary to reduce air pollution and mitigate its health impacts.
Keywords:
Mendelian randomizationair pollutioncasual effectinfectionspneumonia

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