Abstract
Effects of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution on systemic immunological and inflammatory biomarkers in rural population have not been adequately characterized. From May to July 2021, 5816 participants in rural villages of northern Henan Province, China, participated in this cross-sectional study. Blood biomarkers of systemic inflammation were determined including peripheral white blood cells (WBC), eosinophils (EOS), basophils (BAS), monocytes (MON), lymphocytes (LYM), neutrophils (NEU), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). The concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)), PM(10), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O(3)) were assessed up to 7 days prior to the blood draw. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the associations between air pollution exposure and the above-mentioned blood biomarkers. Significantly positive associations were revealed between PM(2.5), CO and WBC; CO, O(3) and LYM; PM(2.5), PM(10), SO(2), CO and NEU; PM(2.5), PM(10,) SO(2), CO and NLR; PM(2.5), PM(10), SO(2), NO(2), CO, O(3) and hs-CRP. Meanwhile, negative associations were found between SO(2) and WBC; PM(2.5), PM(10), NO(2), CO, or O(3) and EOS; PM(2.5), SO(2), or CO and BAS; SO(2), NO(2) or O(3) and MON; PM(2.5), PM(10), SO(2), or NO(2) and LYM. Moreover, men, individuals with normal body mass index (BMI), current smokers, and those older than 60 years were found vulnerable to air pollution effects. Taken together, short-term exposure to air pollution was associated with systemic inflammatory responses, providing insight into the potential mechanisms for air pollution-induced detrimental systemic effects in rural residents.