TY - JOUR
T1 - Fine particulate matter components and reproductive hormones in female adults
T2 - A 15-year longitudinal cohort study
AU - Chen, Siyi
AU - Guo, Cui
AU - Ou, Chunquan
AU - Zheng, Yiling
AU - Liu, Yufei
AU - Ma, Jun
AU - Lu, Xingcheng
AU - Huang, Bo
AU - Chan, Ta Chien
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025
PY - 2025/5
Y1 - 2025/5
N2 - Background: Few cohort studies have evaluated the long-term impacts of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its components on reproductive hormone levels in female adults. Methods: We conducted a 15-year retrospective cohort study in Taiwan between 2003 and 2017. The two-year average concentrations of PM2.5 and its components, including sulfate (SO42−), nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC), were assessed at each participant's addresses. Linear mixed models were used to examine the associations of PM2.5 and its components with reproductive hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and prolactin (PRL). Stratified analyses were conducted to identify vulnerable populations. Results: 17,152 female adults were included. Each interquartile range (IQR: 3.545 μg/m3) increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 0.585 mIU/mL [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.190–0.980] increase in FSH levels. Among the five components of PM2.5, BC had the strongest positive association [each IQR (0.272 μg/m3) increase was associated with a 0.863 mIU/mL (95% CI: 0.476–1.250) increase in FSH levels], followed by OM, SO42−, and NH4+. Similar associations were found for LH, with a 0.483 mIU/mL (95% CI: 0.225–0.742) and 0.684 mIU/mL (95% CI: 0.431–0.938) increase in LH levels per IQR increase in PM2.5 and BC, respectively. The pollutants were marginally associated with decreased E2 levels and increased PRL levels. Non-linear associations between PM2.5 and its components and the levels of FSH, LH, E2, and PRL were observed. These pollutants were also positively associated with T levels among young adults. Post-menopausal women were more susceptible to the chronic impacts of PM2.5 and its components. Conclusion: Our study highlighted the adverse impacts of long-term exposure to PM2.5 components on hormonal homeostasis, revealing the biological mechanism of air pollution-reproductive health associations in females. Implementing stringent control of air pollution levels can benefit reproductive health in female adults, even in moderately polluted regions.
AB - Background: Few cohort studies have evaluated the long-term impacts of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its components on reproductive hormone levels in female adults. Methods: We conducted a 15-year retrospective cohort study in Taiwan between 2003 and 2017. The two-year average concentrations of PM2.5 and its components, including sulfate (SO42−), nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC), were assessed at each participant's addresses. Linear mixed models were used to examine the associations of PM2.5 and its components with reproductive hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and prolactin (PRL). Stratified analyses were conducted to identify vulnerable populations. Results: 17,152 female adults were included. Each interquartile range (IQR: 3.545 μg/m3) increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 0.585 mIU/mL [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.190–0.980] increase in FSH levels. Among the five components of PM2.5, BC had the strongest positive association [each IQR (0.272 μg/m3) increase was associated with a 0.863 mIU/mL (95% CI: 0.476–1.250) increase in FSH levels], followed by OM, SO42−, and NH4+. Similar associations were found for LH, with a 0.483 mIU/mL (95% CI: 0.225–0.742) and 0.684 mIU/mL (95% CI: 0.431–0.938) increase in LH levels per IQR increase in PM2.5 and BC, respectively. The pollutants were marginally associated with decreased E2 levels and increased PRL levels. Non-linear associations between PM2.5 and its components and the levels of FSH, LH, E2, and PRL were observed. These pollutants were also positively associated with T levels among young adults. Post-menopausal women were more susceptible to the chronic impacts of PM2.5 and its components. Conclusion: Our study highlighted the adverse impacts of long-term exposure to PM2.5 components on hormonal homeostasis, revealing the biological mechanism of air pollution-reproductive health associations in females. Implementing stringent control of air pollution levels can benefit reproductive health in female adults, even in moderately polluted regions.
KW - Chemical components
KW - Fine particulate matter
KW - Longitudinal cohort
KW - Reproductive hormones
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001450196400001
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105000033517
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114562
DO - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114562
M3 - Journal Article
C2 - 40106958
SN - 1438-4639
VL - 266
JO - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
JF - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
M1 - 114562
ER -
