The Impact of Air Pollution on Osteoporosis and Bone Loss

Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs in about 44 million people, or about more than half of those 50 and older. It contributes to about 2.1 osteoporosis-related bone fractures, resulting in about $20 billion in annual direct health costs. It’s a condition that disproportionately affects women, as about 80 percent of the ten million people who suffer from this condition are women or about 1 in 5 people are women with osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women are at a higher risk, with at least 1 in 2 women older than 50 experiencing bone fractures from osteoporosis.

As this condition greatly impacts the well-being of people everywhere, some researchers have been looking into the factors that play into the development of osteoporosis and the high risk of bone fractures. Some researchers have been looking into the effects of air pollutants as a potential factor in this disease. 

The Impact of Air Pollution on Osteoporosis and Bone Fractures

Researchers from Columbia University have studied the effect of air pollution and its association with bone damage among postmenopausal women. Most of the previous studies on this topic focused on the adverse effects of bone mineral density, osteoporosis, and fractures in older generations. This recent study attempts to comprehensively assess the association between air pollutants and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

In this study, researchers collected data on an ethnically diverse array of at least 161,808 postmenopausal women and estimated their exposure to pollutants such as PM10, NO, NO2, and SO2 based on their home addresses. In addition, they measured the bone mineral density of these participants along the whole body over one, three, and six years. 

In their analysis, researchers concluded that poor air quality might be a risk factor for bone loss, a factor that’s independent of socioeconomic and demographic factors. In particular, nitrous oxides showed double the effect on the lumbar spine’s bone mineral density, making it the most vulnerable spot for osteoporosis to develop in postmenopausal women. These effects, according to researchers, co-occur through bone cell death caused by factors such as oxidative stress and other bodily mechanisms. 

According to the article, their findings confirm that poor air quality could be a risk factor for bone loss. They believe that they have evidence that nitrogen oxides could be a major contributor to bone damage along the lumbar spine and is considered one of the most susceptible sites of this damage,” reported Environmental Health Science expert and study lead author Diddier Prada. 

While the conclusions these researchers provided have helped emphasize the importance of climate change and its connections to our health, it is only one conclusive study made out of many. More research is needed to provide more effective solutions for diagnosing the development of osteoporosis and the outside factors that affect it. 

Visit Space Coast Orthopedics For Osteoporosis Treatment

Right now, orthopedists and pain management specialists are continuously working to provide effective treatments for those with osteoporosis, including bisphosphonates, denosumab, hormone therapy, and bone-building medications. At Space Coast Orthopedics, Dr. Luc Teurlings can provide patients with osteoporosis treatment in Merritt Island, FL, and other treatments to keep the bones and joints healthy. For more information, contact Space Coast Orthopedics by calling (321) 459-1446 today.