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Exposure to air pollutants drives significant reductions of bone mineral density in the spine, hip, and whole body. This from one of the first studies of its kind by environmental health scientists at the Columbia University School of Public Health.

The study focused on 9041 postmenopausal women from throughout the US for whom both bone mineral density measurements and environmental pollution assessments were available over a 6 year period, When the data were analyzed, it became apparent that those women exposed to the highest levels of air pollutants suffered the greatest loss of bone density at all sites. This was particularly true for levels of nitric oxides but also 10 micron particulates and sulfur dioxide.

Bone density loss, also known as osteoporosis, is a particularly devastating problem for postmenopausal women as it leads to spinal collapse with height loss as well as to hip fractures. Nutritional therapy includes fruits, vegetables, calcium, snd Vitamin D. Common medical therapy includes oral biphosphonates such as Fosamax or Actonel, denosumab, Prolia, and estrogen or like drugs that drive new bone growth. Also important is exercise that stresses the bone.

This study emphasizes the importance of breathing clean air, particularly if you are prone to osteoporosis. You do that by choosing to live where you can spend time outdoors away from motor vehicles and industrial sites that spew pollutants.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00041-X/fulltext

#pollution #osteoporosis #bonemineraldensity #bmd #nitricoxides #sulfuroxides #PM10 #particulates