Outdoor air pollution, bone density and self-reported forearm fracture: the Oslo Health Study

• Published in: Osteoporosis international Vol. 21; no. 10; pp. 1751 - 1760
• Main Authors: Alver, K, Meyer, H. E, Falch, J. A, Søgaard, A. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London London : Springer-Verlag 01.10.2010; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon - methods; Age; Age Distribution; Aged; Air pollution; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Air Pollution - analysis; Arms; Biological and medical sciences; Bone density; Bone Density - physiology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Endocrinology; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Epidemiological Monitoring; Epidemiology; Female; Forearm - physiopathology; Forearm fracture; Forearm Injuries - epidemiology; Forearm Injuries - etiology; Forearm Injuries - physiopathology; Fractures; Gender; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Norway - epidemiology; Original Article; Orthopedics; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Osteoporotic Fractures - epidemiology; Osteoporotic Fractures - etiology; Osteoporotic Fractures - physiopathology; Population study; Prevalence; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Rheumatology; Sex Distribution; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking - epidemiology; SXA; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Norway; Oslo Norway; Norway, Oslo; Forearm fracture; Air pollution; Bone mineral density; Population study; Epidemiology; SXA; Osteoporosis; Forearm; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Air; Trauma
• ISSN: 0937-941X; 1433-2965
• DOI: 10.1007/s00198-009-1130-8

Summary Air pollution is associated with several adverse health outcomes and increased mortality. In the Oslo Health Study, an association between long-term outdoor air pollution exposure and bone health was suggested in men aged 75/76 years, but not in younger men or in women. Introduction Associations have been found between air pollution and a range of diseases, but few have studied whether bone health differs according to the concentration of air pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between indicators of air pollution and bone health. Methods Self-reported forearm fracture was assessed in men and women 75/76 and 59/60 years (n = 5,976) participating in the Oslo Health Study 2000-2001. In subsamples of the participants (n = 1,039), we studied the relation between air pollution and forearm bone mineral density (BMD) measured by single X-ray absorptiometry. Exposure to air pollution (particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)) at each participant's home address was estimated from 1992 to 2001. Results We found no associations between air pollution and self-reported forearm fractures or BMD in men aged 59/60 years or in women. In men aged 75/76 years, an increment of 10 units in PM₂.₅ was associated with a reduction in distal forearm BMD of 64 mg/cm² (p < 0.05), and with an increased prevalence of forearm fracture after the age of 50 years among current smokers, OR = 7.4 (p < 0.05). Similar patterns of associations were suggested for PM₁₀ and NO₂. Conclusions In this study, bone health was not associated with long-term exposure to air pollution in women and in men 59/60 years of age. However, a negative association was suggested in elderly men. Further studies with improved measures of air pollution are warranted.