Long-term associations of air pollution exposure with liver enzymes among adult employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand: A longitudinal cohort study
Issued Date
2023-04-15
Resource Type
ISSN
13522310
eISSN
18732844
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85147742235
Journal Title
Atmospheric Environment
Volume
299
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Atmospheric Environment Vol.299 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Paoin K., Pharino C., Vathesatogkit P., Buya S., Saranburut K., Phosri A., Ueda K., Seposo X.T., Ingviya T., Kitiyakara T., Thongmung N., Sritara P. Long-term associations of air pollution exposure with liver enzymes among adult employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand: A longitudinal cohort study. Atmospheric Environment Vol.299 (2023). doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119648 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/81381
Title
Long-term associations of air pollution exposure with liver enzymes among adult employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand: A longitudinal cohort study
Author's Affiliation
Ramathibodi Hospital
Graduate School of Medicine
Graduate School of Engineering
Chulalongkorn University
Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkia University
Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Mahidol University
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University
Kyoto University
Prince of Songkla University
Graduate School of Medicine
Graduate School of Engineering
Chulalongkorn University
Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkia University
Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Mahidol University
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University
Kyoto University
Prince of Songkla University
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Exposure to particulate air pollution may induce hepatotoxic effects via low-grade inflammation. However, only a few longitudinal epidemiological studies have investigated the long-term effects of air pollution on liver enzyme levels. The present study examined associations between long-term air pollution exposure and serum liver enzymes [alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)] in employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in Thailand's Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). We conducted secondary analyses using the data obtained from 2022 subjects (mean age, 41.2 years as of 2009) of the EGAT3 cohort study (2009–2019). The daily mean concentration of each air pollutant (PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO) was estimated at the sub-district level in BMR from 2008 to 2019 using the Kriging approach. Long-term exposure for each subject was defined as the 1-year average concentrations before the date of the physical examination in 2009, 2014, and 2019. We used linear mixed effects models to assess associations between air pollution and serum liver enzymes. Interquartile range increases in PM10 and O3 were related to decreased ALP [-2.4% (95%CI: -3.0, −1.9) and −6.6% (−7.3, −5.9), respectively] after potential confounders were adjusted. Positive associations between NO2, SO2, and CO with ALP were found [5.7% (4.8, 6.5), 4.5% (4.0, 5.0), and 0.8 (0.3, 1.4), respectively]. Elevated AST was also associated with higher PM10 [1.7% (0.8, 2.5)] and O3 [5.7% (4.5, 6.9)]. However, AST was negatively associated with NO2 [-2.9% (−4.0, −1.8)] and SO2 [-1.7% (−2.3, −1.1)]. In contrast to other air pollutants, we only observed a positive association between O3 and ALT [3.4% (1.5, 5.3)]. The alteration in liver enzyme levels was significantly associated with long-term exposure to air pollution, which may raise the possibility of hepatocellular damage.