"Fine Dust Targets Not Only the Lungs but Also Blood Vessels"... Raises LDL Cholesterol [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Fine dust has been found to increase levels of LDL cholesterol, known as "bad cholesterol," going beyond simply triggering respiratory diseases and raising the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The risk was particularly higher among women, middle-aged and older adults aged 50 and above, and urban residents.
Fine dust has long been recognized as a major risk factor for respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung disease. However, systematic nationwide evidence has been lacking on its specific effects on lipid metabolism in the blood and the risks associated with different exposure periods.
A research team led by Professors Lee Won-cheol and Kim Hyun-il of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital analyzed the association between fine-dust exposure and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia among 14,867 Korean adults between 2016 and 2022, using data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Based on air-monitoring network data from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the researchers calculated the concentrations of fine dust and ultrafine particulate matter to which participants were exposed at their places of residence. They found that each increase in fine-dust concentration equivalent to the usual exposure variation, or interquartile range, raised the risk of hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia by 14.3% with one day of exposure, 22.8% with six months of exposure, and 16.6% with five years of exposure.
Ultrafine particulate matter, which consists of smaller particles, also increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. For each increase in its concentration equivalent to the usual exposure variation, or interquartile range, the risk of developing LDL-cholesterolemia rose by 9.7% with one day of exposure, 16.6% with six months of exposure, and 12.5% with five years of exposure.
The risk of elevated cholesterol associated with fine-dust exposure was more pronounced in certain groups. Women, adults aged 50 and above, and urban residents showed a greater risk of increased bad cholesterol. In women aged 50 and older in particular, the reduced vascular protection caused by postmenopausal hormonal changes appears to have combined with age-related declines in metabolic function and cumulative lifetime exposure.
Professor Kim said, "We confirmed that the risk of hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia can increase by more than 20% even within the range of fine-dust concentrations that typically fluctuates in the atmosphere." He urged, "Because fine dust not only causes acute inflammation but also disrupts lipid metabolism in the body by inducing chronic oxidative stress, vulnerable groups should take particular care to refrain from outdoor activities and wear masks on days with high fine-dust concentrations, as well as manage indoor air quality."
The findings were published in the latest issue of the international journal International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health.
  


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