The impact of airborne pollution on skin

Abstract

Indoor and outdoor airborne pollutants modify our environment and represent a growing threat to human health worldwide. Airborne pollution effects on respiratory and cardiac health and diseases have been well established, but its impact on skin remains poorly described. Nonetheless, the skin is one of the main targets of pollutants, which reach the superficial and deeper skin layers by transcutaneous and systemic routes. In this review, we report the outcomes of basic and clinical research studies monitoring pollutant levels in human tissues including the skin and hair. We present a current understanding of the biochemical and biophysical effects of pollutants on skin metabolism, inflammatory processes and oxidative stress, with a focus on polyaromatic hydrocarbons and ground‐level ozone that are widespread outdoor pollutants whose effects are mostly studied. We reviewed the literature to report the clinical effects of pollutants on skin health and skin ageing and their impact on some chronic inflammatory skin diseases. We also discuss the potential interactions of airborne pollutants with either ultraviolet radiation or human skin microbiota and their specific impact on skin health.

Elevated Blood Cadmium and Lead Levels in Chronic Pruritic Dermatoses

“…An association with mercury levels was not observed (odds ratio ¼ 1.03; 95% confidence interval ¼ 0.97e1.09; Figure 1). Although multiple studies have reported associations between pollutants and cutaneous disease, the underlying mechanism remains unclear (Araviiskaia et al, 2019;Kim et al, 2016;Weng et al, 2017). Previous studies have described non-IgEemediated mechanisms of pruritus with heavy metal exposure, suggesting that heavy metals may have a direct role that needs to be elucidated in further studies (Nguyen et al, 2016;Weng et al, 2017).…”

“…Lead inhalation and ingestion is attributed to tobacco, construction, hazardous waste, and industrial sites making batteries, ammunition, and roofing materials, whereas cadmium may be ingested from vegetables contaminated with fertilizer (Krueger and Wade, 2016). Even chronic, low dose heavy metal exposure poses a substantial public health concern because chronic inflammatory skin diseases are exacerbated with pollution exposure (Araviiskaia et al, 2019;Wang and Fowler, 2008). As such, physicians should consider screening patients presenting with chronic pruritic dermatoses of uncertain etiology for pollution exposure given the association of elevated lead and cadmium levels in these patients.…”

“…TO THE EDITOR Increased energy consumption and rapid urbanization have exposed human skin to unprecedented levels of air, soil, and water pollution (Puri et al, 2017). Skin is exposed to pollutants through both direct exposure and systemic distribution after inhalation or ingestion (Araviiskaia et al, 2019).…”

Urbanization, Environmental Pollution and Skin Aging

“…Peng et al, 2017 added further suggested that the effects of air pollutants might be amplified in the presence of other air pollutants in conjunction with UVR [15]. According to Araviiskaia et al, 2019 pollutants reach the superficial and deeper skin layers by transcutaneous and systemic routes [16]. Fuks et al, 2019 says shortterm exposure to ozone (O3) elicits an oxidative stress response in human, which leads to aberrant transcriptional expression of genes consistent with increased skin aging [17].…”

Nicotinamide (aka Niacinamide) Mitigates SASP-Related Inflammation Induced by Environmental Stressors in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes

“…The impact of environmental stressors on human skin has been extensively studied, particularly as it relates to solar radiation since it is accepted that ultraviolet (UV) exposure can cause upwards of 80% of premature aging [1,2]. In addition, more recent research has studied the impact of stressors such as pollution and corresponding particulate matter on skin health [3][4][5]. Mechanistically one of the early events in response to environmental stressors is the generation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause DNA damage, protein structure and enzymatic activity alteration, and formation of lipid peroxides [6].…”