Higher air pollution exposure in early life is associated with worse health among older adults: a 72-year follow-up study from Scotland

Baranyi, Gergő; Williamson, Lee; Feng, Zhiqiang; Carnell, Edward ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0870-1955; Vieno, Massimo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7741-9377; Dibben, Chris. 2024 Higher air pollution exposure in early life is associated with worse health among older adults: a 72-year follow-up study from Scotland [in special issue: Longitudinal analysis in geospatial health applications] Health & Place, 86, 103208. 7, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103208

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Abstract/Summary

Air pollution increases the risk of mortality and morbidity. However, limited evidence exists on the very long-term associations between early life air pollution exposure and health, as well as on potential pathways. This study explored the relationship between fine particle (PM2.5) exposure at age 3 and limiting long-term illness (LLTI) at ages 55, 65 and 75 using data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study Birth Cohort 1936, a representative administrative cohort study. We found that early life PM2.5 exposure was associated with higher odds of LLTI in mid-to-late adulthood (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.14 per 10 μg m−3 increment) among the 2085 participants, with stronger associations among those growing up in disadvantaged families. Path analyses suggested that 15–21% of the association between early life PM2.5 concentrations and LLTI at age 65 (n = 1406) was mediated through childhood cognitive ability, educational qualifications, and adult social position. Future research should capitalise on linked administrative and health data, and explore causal mechanisms between environment and specific health conditions across the life course.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103208
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	1353-8292
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	air pollution, limiting long-term illness, life course, administrative data, longitudinal design, record linkage
NORA Subject Terms:	Health Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	27 Feb 2024 10:09 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/536990

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