Long -term exposure to low levels of air pollution, linked to road traffic, harms liver health and increases the risk of hepatic steatosis.
- In a study on mice, researchers have shown that air pollution could degrade liver health.
- Exposure, even small, in the long term, can disrupt the liver and increase the risk of illness.
- Scientists have observed changes in the rates of certain proteins associated with pathologies including liver steatosis and cancer.
4.2 million premature deaths were linked to air pollution worldwide in 2019. This figure comes from theWorld Health Organization. If the effects of pollution on the lungs are the best known, poor air quality can harm other organs.
In a study published in Journal of Environmental Sciences,, Researchers from the University of Technology in Sydney in Australia demonstrate that it can degrade liver health and increase The risk of metabolic hepatic steatosis (MASLD).
Air pollution: long -term exposure has effects on the liver
These scientists conducted their tests on mice: they exposed them to 10 micrograms per day of PM2.5 particles derived from road traffic. This quantity reflects a typical human exposure to Sydney, in the main streets. The signs of inflammation, fibrosis, and changes in liver sugars and fats, were measured at four, eight and 12 weeks. “”The effect was cumulative, Observes Dr. Min Feng, doctor at the Faculty of Sciences of the UTS, and the first author of the study. At four weeks, we have not seen many changes, but at eight weeks, there was a disturbance of the normal metabolic function of the liver and at 12 weeks, we were able to see significant changes. “
Fine particles modify the protein levels associated with liver health
Exposure to pollution particles has increased the number of immune cells in the liver, inflammation and the amount of scar tissue. “”The treatment of liver fats was higher and potentially harmful fats such as triglycerides, diacylglycerols and ceramids have also increased, develop the authors. At the same time, the liver stored less sugar for energy. “ In total, changes have been observed in 64 specific proteins in the liver, “Many linked to conditions such as liver steatosis, dysfunction of the immune system and cancer processes “.
Hepatic steatosis: there is no level of exposure without risk to pollution
The authors recall that previous studies had shown that highly polluted air exposure was associated with liver disorders, but this new research proves that low levels can also affect liver health. “”This suggests that there is no “sure” level of exposure to air pollution linked to road traffic “continues Professor Hui Chen, principal author. Fine particles pass through the blood circulation via the lungs, or the liver, whose role is to filter the toxins in the blood, accumulates these different substances, such as arsenic, lead or nickel. “”If the liver does not work properly, it can make people tired and sick due to a disturbed metabolism “said Professor Chen in a press release.
