Air Pollution Linked to Autoimmune Warning Signs

The smaller the particles, the bigger the risks.

STARTER STATS

• Autoimmune diseases affect roughly 1 in 12 Canadians, with higher prevalence among women.

• Some pollution particles (PM2.5) are ~30 times smaller than a human hair and can enter the bloodstream.

• Air pollution is responsible for an estimated 15,000 premature deaths annually in Canada, mostly tied to non-communicable disease.

---

Air pollution reaches the bloodstream. Does it lead to autoimmune warning signs

Fine air pollution particles may be linked to early immune-system changes that precede autoimmune diseases.

New findings from researchers at McGill University suggest that the health risks of fine particles from air pollution extend well beyond the lungs and heart. The study analyzed blood samples from more than 3,500 participants in CanPath, comparing immune markers with air pollution exposure across Ontario postal codes.

The team found that people living in areas with higher levels of PM2.5 were more likely to have elevated anti-nuclear antibodies, which are biomarkers commonly associated with autoimmune conditions like lupus.

"These results point us in a new direction for understanding how air pollution might trigger immune system changes that are associated with autoimmune disease."

— Dr. Sasha Bernatsky

Because PM2.5 particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream, they may affect multiple systems in the body.

The researchers note that air pollution isn’t only an urban issue: wildfire smoke and other sources affect rural and suburban communities as well.

Their findings also highlight equity concerns. Lower-income and marginalized populations may face higher exposure and higher autoimmune risk.

Read more →