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Publications

Journal Article Ppublish 3 citations

PubMed: 40273556 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109457

Sex differences in the association between long-term ambient particulate air pollution and the intestinal microbiome composition of children.

Environ Int 199:109457

Authors: Thessa Van Pee, Liesa Engelen, Marthe De Boevre, Muriel Derrien, Janneke Hogervorst, Roger Pero-Gascon, Michelle Plusquin, Giulia Poma, Arnau Vich I Vila, Adrian Covaci, Lynn Vanhaecke, Sarah De Saeger, Jeroen Raes, Tim S Nawrot

Affiliations

  • Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium.
  • Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
  • Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
  • Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
  • Laboratory of Integrative Metabolomics (LIMET), Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
  • Centre of Excellence in Mycotoxicology and Public Health, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University, Herestraat 49-box 706, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Abstract

The intestinal microbiome is essential for gastrointestinal and overall health, yet its response to air pollution in children remains underexplored. In a study involving 412 young children from the ENVIRONAGE cohort, stool samples were analysed via Illumina Miseq sequencing to assess microbiome alpha diversity (observed richness, species evenness, and Shannon diversity) and composition. Exposure to previous year particulate air pollution (black carbon, PM 2.5, coarse PM, and PM 10) was modeled using high-resolution spatial-temporal interpolation models. Multiple linear regression models were adjusted for a priori selected covariables and stratified by sex. Furthermore, we performed a differential relative abundance analysis at family and genus level, while accounting for the same covariables. Statistically significant effect modification by sex was apparent for several intestinal alpha diversity indices and air pollutants. In boys, we observed negative associations between particulate air pollution exposure and intestinal microbiome richness (estimates ranging from -5.55 to -9.06 per interquartile range (IQR) increase in particulate air pollution exposure) and Shannon diversity (estimates ranging from -0.058 to -0.095 per IQR increase). Differently, in girls non-significant positive associations were observed with species evenness (estimates ranging from 0.019 to 0.020 per IQR increase) and Shannon diversity (estimate 0.065 per IQR increase in black carbon). After multiple testing correction, we reported several bacterial families and genera (Streptococcaceae, Clostridiales Incertae Sedis XIII, Coriobacteriaceae, Streptococcus, and Paraprevotella) to be oppositely associated with particulate air pollution exposure in boys and girls. Our findings show a sex-dependent association between particulate air pollution exposure and intestinal microbiome composition, highlighting boys as potentially more vulnerable to diversity loss associated with childhood exposure to particulate pollution.

MeSH

Air Pollution, Air, Environmental Pollution, Sex Characteristics, Sex, Environmental Health, Child, Sex Differences