The study showed that air pollution not only affects the lungs and heart, but also acts as a trigger for autoimmune diseases. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) associated with polluted air is linked to the presence of antinuclear antibodies in the blood, indicators of an overactive immune system that may appear years before a diagnosis of diseases like lupus.
Researchers examined blood tests from more than 3,500 people and found that those living in areas with higher levels of air pollution were more likely to have these markers, even in the absence of symptoms. They explained that PM2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, and their sources include cars, wildfire smoke, and industrial emissions.
Scientists have confirmed that there is unlikely to be a safe level of this pollution, making air quality an important, though sometimes overlooked, factor in the risk of developing autoimmune diseases, especially among the most vulnerable groups.
The study was published in the journal Rheumatology
