Is it true that air pollution can damage bones?

Sahabat Hermina, air pollution is air contamination because there are harmful substances in the atmosphere that can harm the health of humans and other creatures. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by chemical, physical or biological agents that modify the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Air pollution can cause several diseases that affect humans, such as lung disease, skin disorders, heart disease, and so on. Air pollution is caused by human activities such as motorized vehicles, industrial and household combustion, and forest fires. High levels of air pollution are increasingly detrimental to public health. One of the newest ones, air pollution can cause bone weakness and give rise to diseases related to bone damage.

The most common bone problem is bone loss or known as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurs when bones are brittle and weak because they cannot compensate for damage to old bones when forming new bones so that the bones become porous. Osteoporosis usually occurs in the elderly and women and is caused by calcium deficiency, hormone disorders, long-term steroid therapy, and so on.A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found a link between traffic fumes and bone fractures caused by osteoporosis. This study links exposure to pollution with low levels of parathyroid hormone which regulates the production of calcium which can cause bones to become weak.

Air pollution can also be called triggering disorders of the bones such as osteoporosis. Elderly who are often exposed to harmful compounds from the air are prone to bone problems. This can happen because air pollution and mineral density have a relationship between the effects of a mixture of substances. Effects can be seen in the lumbar spine.

The magnitude of the effect of nitrogen oxides on lumbar spine mineral density would amount to a 1.22 percent annual reduction, almost double the annual effect of age at any of the anatomic sites evaluated. This effect is believed to occur through bone cell death via oxidative damage andother mechanisms.Good air pollution, especially nitrogen oxides will reduce bone damage in elderly or postmenopausal women and prevent fractures associated with osteoporosis among women.

Well, don't forget to always maintain your health and prevent air pollution starting from yourself. Stay healthy.