Air Pollution Linked to Rise in Antibiotic Resistance, Global Study Finds
A new global study suggests that air pollution is contributing to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, posing a significant threat to human health worldwide. The study, which analyzed data from over 100 countries spanning nearly two decades, revealed that rising air pollution levels are closely linked to the rise in antibiotic resistance across every country and continent.
The findings of the study, published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal, indicate that the connection between air pollution and antibiotic resistance has strengthened over time. As air pollution levels increase, so does the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance is recognized as one of the fastest-growing threats to global health, responsible for an estimated 1.3 million deaths annually. While the main drivers of antibiotic resistance are the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, this study highlights that air pollution is exacerbating the problem.
The study did not explore the exact scientific mechanisms that link air pollution and antibiotic resistance. However, evidence suggests that particulate matter PM2.5, which is present in air pollution, can contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes. These can be transferred between environments and inhaled by humans.
Air pollution is already recognized as the single largest environmental risk to public health, leading to chronic conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and lung cancer. Short-term exposure to high levels of pollution can cause respiratory issues and increase hospital and GP attendances globally.
The study suggests that curbing air pollution could help reduce antibiotic resistance. Controlling air pollution not only offers benefits in terms of improving air quality and reducing its harmful effects, but it could also play a major role in combating the rise and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The lead author of the study, Professor Hong Chen of Zhejiang University in China, emphasized the significance of this research, stating that both antibiotic resistance and air pollution are among the greatest threats to global health. The study indicates that controlling air pollution could have a twofold benefit, reducing the harmful effects of poor air quality and combating antibiotic resistance.
The study also highlighted potential pathways for antibiotic-resistant genes carried through air pollution, including hospitals, farms, and sewage-treatment facilities. These sources emit and spread antibiotic-resistant particles through the air, which can then travel over wide distances.
The data used in the study focused on PM2.5 air pollution, which is made up of particles significantly smaller than a human hair and is primarily caused by road traffic, industrial processes, and domestic burning of coal and wood. It is estimated that 7.3 billion people worldwide are directly exposed to unsafe levels of PM2.5.
The study, which analyzed data from 116 countries between 2000 and 2018, found a clear association between PM2.5 and antibiotic resistance. For every 10% increase in air pollution, there was an associated 1.1% increase in antibiotic resistance. The analysis estimates that air pollution-related antibiotic resistance led to approximately 480,000 premature deaths in 2018.
Moreover, a modeling of future scenarios suggests that without changes to current air pollution policies, antibiotic resistance worldwide could increase by 17% by 2050. The annual premature death toll linked to antibiotic resistance could rise to approximately 840,000.
While the study had some limitations, such as a lack of data in certain countries, it provides valuable insights into the global impact of air pollution on antibiotic resistance. Future research should focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms of how air pollution influences antibiotic resistance.
In a related study published in the journal BMJ Mental Health, exposure to high levels of air pollution was found to be associated with increased use of community mental health services among individuals with dementia. This long-term study examined an area of London with heavy traffic.
The findings of these studies further highlight the urgent need to address air pollution and its detrimental effects on human health. Taking action to control and reduce air pollution could prove crucial in combatting antibiotic resistance and improving overall public health worldwide.