Leng Rui-Xue, Hu Wenbiao
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
Ecosystem Change and Population Health Research Group, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
Environ Health (Wash). 2025 Mar 12;3(6):571-574. doi: 10.1021/envhealth.4c00281. eCollection 2025 Jun 20.
In developing countries like China, personal air-purifying respirators and indoor air purifiers are commonly used to mitigate high levels of air pollution, whereas lower pollution levels in many developed countries lead to less proactive measures. However, emerging evidence suggests that even relatively low-level air pollution can elevate the risk of autoimmune diseases. Recent biobank studies demonstrated a linear relationship between chronic exposure to relatively low-level ambient air pollution and the incidence of autoimmune diseases, particularly in genetically susceptible populations. Furthermore, evidence indicates that short-term exposure to low levels of PM is associated with disease flares. This Viewpoint highlights the often-overlooked risks of low-level air pollution in contributing to autoimmune diseases in individuals with genetic predispositions; it aims to raise awareness of prevention strategies and advocate nonpharmacological interventions at both the population and individual levels, to protect high-risk groups and alleviate the burden of autoimmune diseases.
在中国这样的发展中国家，个人空气净化呼吸器和室内空气净化器被普遍用于缓解高水平的空气污染，而许多发达国家较低的污染水平则导致采取的措施不够积极主动。然而，新出现的证据表明，即使是相对低水平的空气污染也会增加自身免疫性疾病的风险。最近的生物样本库研究表明，长期暴露于相对低水平的环境空气污染与自身免疫性疾病的发病率之间存在线性关系，尤其是在遗传易感人群中。此外，有证据表明，短期暴露于低水平的细颗粒物与疾病发作有关。本观点强调了低水平空气污染在导致具有遗传易感性个体患自身免疫性疾病方面常常被忽视的风险；旨在提高对预防策略的认识，并倡导在人群和个体层面采取非药物干预措施，以保护高危人群并减轻自身免疫性疾病的负担。
