The air we breathe and the surrounding temperatures are also linked to our metabolic health. A European study associates greater exposure to PM10 particles with higher and more variable temperatures and higher blood glucose levels in people without diabetes.
The study on pollution and blood glucose analyzed 21,259 participants from nine European cohorts. Published in Environment International, it involved the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute and was led by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the University of Basel.
The results reinforce the importance of studying air and temperature together. The work has identified associations, but has not found a consistent relationship with the presence of green spaces.
Pollution and Blood Glucose
Exposure to air pollution and temperature variability are associated with higher blood glucose levels in people without diabetes, according to a European study.
The study, published in Environment International and in which the Spanish Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) participated, analyzes the relationship between urban environmental exposures and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels to study metabolic changes before the onset of disease.
Led by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the University of Basel, the research analyzes data from 21,259 participants from nine European cohorts.
The results show that greater exposure to PM10 pollutants, together with the rise and variability of temperatures, increases HbA1c levels in blood, while no consistent associations with the presence of green spaces were identified.
The researchers conclude that improving air quality yields more beneficial effects on glucose levels in a scenario of warmer temperatures derived from climate change, due to the interaction between the two environmental variables.
According to the study authors, the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon could be attributed to internal inflammatory processes and insulin resistance triggered by pollutants and heat.
