Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and serum liver enzymes in older adults: A population-based longitudinal study

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is significantly associated with increased serum liver enzyme levels in older adults.

• Each interquartile range increase of particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O) exposures correlates with a 4.6% to 6.2% increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.
• Each interquartile range increase of the same pollutants is linked to a 3.3% to 6.1% increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels.
• Increased PM, SO, and NO exposure is associated with a 23% to 28% rise in the odds of elevated ALT levels (>40 U/L).
• Elevated AST levels (>40 U/L) show a 25% to 57% increase in odds with higher exposure to these pollutants.
• These findings suggest that air pollution exposures may induce hepatocellular injury in older adults.

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