Life-course exposure to air pollution and biological ageing in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

Baranyi, Gergő; Deary, Ian J.; McCartney, Daniel L.; Harris, Sarah E.; Shortt, Niamh; Reis, Stefan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2428-8320; Russ, Tom C.; Ward Thompson, Catharine; Vieno, Massimo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7741-9377; Cox, Simon R.; Pearce, Jamie. 2022 Life-course exposure to air pollution and biological ageing in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Environment International, 169, 107501. 12, pp. 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107501

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107501

Abstract/Summary

Background: Exposure to air pollution is associated with a range of diseases. Biomarkers derived from DNA methylation (DNAm) offer potential mechanistic insights into human health differences, connecting disease pathogenesis and biological ageing. However, little is known about sensitive periods during the life course where air pollution might have a stronger impact on DNAm, or whether effects accumulate over time. We examined associations between air pollution exposure across the life course and DNAm-based markers of biological ageing. Methods: Data were derived from the Scotland-based Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Participants’ residential history was linked to annual levels of fine particle (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) around 1935, 1950, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2001; pollutant concentrations were estimated using the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry transport model. Blood samples were obtained between ages of 70 and 80 years, and Horvath DNAmAge, Hannum DNAmAge, DNAmPhenoAge, DNAmGrimAge, and DNAm telomere length (DNAmTL) were computed. We applied the structured life-course modelling approach: least angle regression identified best-fit life-course models for a composite measure of air pollution (air quality index [AQI]), and mixed-effects regression estimated selected models for AQI and single pollutants. Results: We included 525 individuals with 1782 observations. In the total sample, increased air pollution around 1970 was associated with higher epigenetic age (AQI: b=0.322 year, 95%CI: 0.088, 0.555) measured with Horvath DNAmAge in late adulthood. We found shorter DNAmTL among males with higher air pollution around 1980 (AQI: b=-0.015 kilobase, 95%CI: -0.027, -0.004) and among females with higher exposure around 1935 (AQI: b=-0.017 kilobase, 95%CI: -0.028, -0.006). Findings were more consistent for the pollutants PM2.5, SO2 and NO2. Discussion: We tested the life-course relationship between air pollution and DNAm-based biomarkers. Air pollution around birth and in young-to-middle adulthood is linked to accelerated epigenetic ageing and telomere-associated ageing in later life.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.envint.2022.107501
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0160-4120
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	air pollution, epigenetic clock, DNA methylation, life course, biological ageing
NORA Subject Terms:	Health Medicine Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	23 Sep 2022 16:28 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533149

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.envint.2022.107501

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0160-4120

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

air pollution, epigenetic clock, DNA methylation, life course, biological ageing