Exposure to ambient air particulate matter and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

The present study was designed to alert the public opinion and policy makers on the supposed enhancing effects of exposure to ambient air particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 mm (PM_2.5) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common chronic liver disease in Western countries. For far too long literature data have been fixated on pulmonary diseases and/or cardiovascular disease, as consequence of particulate exposure, ignoring the link between the explosion of obesity with related syndromes such as NAFLD and air pollution, the worst characteristics of nowadays civilization. In order to delineate a clear picture of this major health problem, further studies should investigate whether and at what extent cigarette smoking and exposure to ambient air PM_2.5 impact the natural history of patients with obesity-related NAFLD, i.e., development of non alcoholic steatohepatitis, disease characterized by a worse prognosis due its progression towards fibrosis and hepatocarcinoma.

Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 μm, Cytochrome P-450, Reactive oxygen species

Core tip: Important arguments Diesel exhaust particles are known to be major constituents of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in metropolitan areas. Exposure to PM is positively associated with increases in the morbidity and daily mortality. Obesity-related health complications include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Exposure to ambient air PM may induce/worsen NAFLD.