Linking the Fasting Blood Glucose Level to Short-Term-Exposed Particulate Constituents and Pollution Sources: Results from a Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in China
Yanlin Tian, Jianlong Fang, Feng Wang, Zhihan Luo, Feng Zhao, Yi Zhang, Peng Du, Jiaonan Wang, Yawei Li, Wanying Shi, Yuanyuan Liu, Enmin Ding, Qinghua Sun, Chengcheng Li, Song Tang, Xu Yue, Guoliang Shi, Bin Wang, Tiantian Li, Guofeng Shen, Xiaoming Shi
Abstract
Ambient PM2.5 (fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 μm) is thought to be associated with the development of diabetes, but few studies traced the effects of PM2.5 components and pollution sources on the change in the fasting blood glucose (FBG). In the present study, we assessed the associations of PM2.5 constituents and their sources with the FBG in a general Chinese population aged over 40 years. Exposure to PM2.5 was positively associated with the FBG level, and each interquartile range (IQR) increase in a lag period of 30 days (18.4 μg/m3) showed the strongest association with an elevated FBG of 0.16 mmol/L (95% confidence interval: 0.04, 0.28). Among various constituents, increases in exposed elemental carbon, organic matter, arsenic, and heavy metals such as silver, cadmium, lead, and zinc were associated with higher FBG, whereas barium and chromium were associated with lower FBG levels. The elevated FBG level was closely associated with the PM2.5 from coal combustion, industrial sources, and vehicle emissions, while the association with secondary sources was statistically insignificant. Improving air quality by tracing back to the pollution sources would help to develop well-directed policies to protect human health.