Fabio Tateo1, Francesca Grassivaro2, Mario Ermani3, Marco Puthenparampil2, Paolo Gallo2. 1. Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council of Italy, Department of Geosciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy. 2. Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurosciences (DNS), Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy. 3. Department of Neurosciences (DNS), Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Incidence and prevalence trends of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Province of Padua, North-East Italy, suggest that environmental factors may be associated with increased MS risk. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of PM2.5 with MS prevalence in one of the most polluted geographical area of Italy. METHODS: In total, 1435 Italian MS patients residing in the Province of Padua were enrolled. The province surface was classified into urban areas, isolated villages, industrialized places, and countryside. Satellite-derived dust-free and sea salt-free PM2.5 concentrations (annual average 1998-2015, μg/m3) allowed the identification of 18 classes of territorial sections with statistically evaluable numbers of inhabitants. Possible correlations between residential locality types, PM2.5 concentrations, and MS prevalence were investigated. RESULTS: MS prevalence was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in urban areas (ranging from 219 in Padua City to 169/100,000 in other urban areas) compared to isolated villages (116/100,000) or rural domains (109/100,000) and strongly correlated with the annual average concentration of PM2.5 (r = 0.81, p < 0.001). Regression analysis further associated MS cases with PM.2.5 average concentration (β = 0.11, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the Province of Padua, MS prevalence is strongly associated with PM2.5 exposure suggesting that air pollutants may be one of the possible environmental risk factors for MS.
BACKGROUND: Incidence and prevalence trends of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Province of Padua, North-East Italy, suggest that environmental factors may be associated with increased MS risk. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of PM2.5 with MS prevalence in one of the most polluted geographical area of Italy. METHODS: In total, 1435 Italian MS patients residing in the Province of Padua were enrolled. The province surface was classified into urban areas, isolated villages, industrialized places, and countryside. Satellite-derived dust-free and sea salt-free PM2.5 concentrations (annual average 1998-2015, μg/m3) allowed the identification of 18 classes of territorial sections with statistically evaluable numbers of inhabitants. Possible correlations between residential locality types, PM2.5 concentrations, and MS prevalence were investigated. RESULTS: MS prevalence was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in urban areas (ranging from 219 in Padua City to 169/100,000 in other urban areas) compared to isolated villages (116/100,000) or rural domains (109/100,000) and strongly correlated with the annual average concentration of PM2.5 (r = 0.81, p < 0.001). Regression analysis further associated MS cases with PM.2.5 average concentration (β = 0.11, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the Province of Padua, MS prevalence is strongly associated with PM2.5 exposure suggesting that air pollutants may be one of the possible environmental risk factors for MS.
Entities:
Keywords:
Multiple sclerosis; PM2.5; air pollution; epidemiology; prevalence
Authors: Maria Cristina Collivignarelli; Alessandro Abbà; Francesca Maria Caccamo; Giorgio Bertanza; Roberta Pedrazzani; Marco Baldi; Paola Ricciardi; Marco Carnevale Miino Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2021-02-26 Impact factor: 4.223
Authors: Mariana Oliveira; André Padrão; André Ramalho; Mariana Lobo; Ana Cláudia Teodoro; Hernâni Gonçalves; Alberto Freitas Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-13 Impact factor: 3.390