Air pollution, a possible risk factor for multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objective Studies focusing attention on the effects of environmental pollution on the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) are on the increase. The aim of this study was to determine MS prevalence in a city home to an iron and steel factory which causes air pollution. Methods The study was designed as a cross‐sectional, population‐based, descriptive epidemiologic study. Ereğli city, which has an iron and steel factory and proven air pollution, was screened. Additionally, Devrek city, which is a rural and clean city, located 40 km away from Ereğli was assigned and results were compared. A validated questionnaire was used for screening. McDonald 2010 criteria were used to diagnose cases. Results 32 261 people were screened in Ereğli, and 21 963 people were screened in Devrek. In total, 41 patients were diagnosed with clinical definite MS. Crude prevalence was found to be 96.1/100 000 in Ereğli and 45.5/100 000 in Devrek. The mean age of patients was 39.8, and the female/male ratio was 1.9. Conclusion The results of this study indicate a more than double MS prevalence rate in the area home to an iron and steel factory when compared to the rural city. This supports the hypothesis that air pollution may be a possible etiological factor in MS.

Genetic, Environmental and Lifestyle Determinants of Accelerated Telomere Attrition as Contributors to Risk and Severity of Multiple Sclerosis

“…A significant relation between particulate matter (PM) and prevalence or relapse of MS has been observed in nine studies with rather different methodologies [170,171]. An Italian study showed that in urban areas, where elevated levels of fine particles (PM 2.5 ) have been measured on an annual average basis, the prevalence of MS was significantly higher than in villages and the countryside, where PM 2.5 levels were much lower.…”

Air Pollution and Central Nervous System Disease: A Review of the Impact of Fine Particulate Matter on Neurological Disorders

“…According to epidemiological studies, fine dust can be a risk factor for MS (52)(53)(54). The results of epidemiological surveys conducted in Italy showed that that air pollution may be an additional environmental risk factor that might contribute to the pathophysiology of MS (54).…”

Association between ambient air pollution and multiple sclerosis: a systemic review and meta-analysis

“…Many studies found that worse air quality was associated with MS, but were not included in our current analysis due to the difference of statistical processing. Cross-sectional studies conducted in Turkey found that the incidence of MS was higher in the city with an iron-and-steel factory than a cleaner city in the same region (Börü et al 2018;Börü et al 2020). Similarly, a study also revealed mean annual PM2.5 levels was associated with MS (Corona-Vázquez et al 2019).…”