Effects of Ambient Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Exposure on Calorie Intake and Appetite of Outdoor Workers

Abstract

Malaysia has been experiencing smoke-haze episodes almost annually for the past few decades. PM2.5 is the main component in haze and causes harmful impacts on health due to its small aerodynamic size. This study aimed to explore the implications of PM2.5 exposure on the dietary intake of working individuals. Two phased 13-weeks follow-up study was conducted involving 440 participants, consisting of two cohorts of outdoor and indoor workers. Ambient PM2.5 concentrations were monitored using DustTrakTM DRX Aerosol Monitor. Data on Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) and 24 h diet recall were collected weekly. The highest PM2.5 concentration of 122.90 ± 2.07 µg/m3 was recorded in August, and it vastly exceeded the standard value stipulated by US EPA and WHO. SNAQ scores and calorie intake were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with changes in PM2.5 exposure of outdoor workers. Several moderate and positive correlations (R-value ranged from 0.4 to 0.6) were established between SNAQ scores, calorie intake and PM2.5 exposure. Overall findings suggested that long hours of PM2.5 exposure affect personal dietary intake, potentially increasing the risk of metabolic syndromes and other undesired health conditions. The current policy should be strengthened to safeguard the well-being of outdoor workers.

The association between air pollution and obesity: an umbrella review of meta-analyses and systematic reviews

“…Inhalation of air pollutants leads to metabolic disorders in the body and weight loss. Air pollution can affect metabolic function by changing adipose tissue inflammation, oxidative stress, and personal dietary intake [ 47 – 49 ]. Inhaling air pollutants triggers a series of physiological responses that alter immune, inflammatory and respiratory pathways, leading to altered inflammatory biomarkers and increased levels of oxidative stress in the human body [ 50 ].…”

Obesity Development in Rats Exposed to Traffic-Induced Air Pollution and Forced Exercise

“…Long-term exposure to air pollution has been reported to increase appetite due to neuroin ammation in the brain, resulting in overeating behaviors [30]. Chen et al (2018) detected that air pollution is a factor that can increase appetite, insulin resistance, and fat accumulation [31].…”

The characteristic of atmospheric particulate matter and the influence factors in Xiamen for air quality management

“…The city encompasses Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island, the northern inland area, and several smaller islands scattered throughout the surrounding sea. Its extensive coastline spans a length of 234 km, accompanied by a sea area of 390 km 2 (Sundram et al, 2022). In 2015, the estimated population of Xiamen was approximately 3.86 million (Li et al, 2022).…”

“…Beyond these direct impacts, PMs exert indirect effects on the climate by altering the physical and radiative properties of clouds. These alterations can impact cloud formation and precipitation patterns, further influencing weather can climate dynamics (Jiang et al, 2022;Li et al, 2022;Sundram et al, 2022).…”

“…revealed the temporal and spatial characteristics of atmospheric pollutants in three megacities over China, explored the variation of air quality, major air pollutants, and analyzed the influences of meteorological factors. Jiang et al, (2022) reveal the characteristics of ambient PMs and O3 in China and synergy in anthropogenic emissions and atmospheric processes (Sundram et al, 2022).…”