Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health · Nov 13, 2026

Ambient particulate matter and blood lipids: Effect modification by dyslipidemia

By Kim SH, Cho S, Kang W et al.

We analyzed nationally representative Korean adults (KNHANES 2016–2023) to assess associations between annual particulate matter exposure and lipid profiles, with effect modification by dyslipidemia diagnosis. Exposure was assigned at the province/metropolitan level by survey year, and outcomes included TC, HDL-C, TG, non-HDL-C, and LDL-C. Survey-weighted linear regression estimated changes per interquartile range increase (PM2.5: 5.00 µg/m³; PM₁₀: 9.00 µg/m³), adjusting for predefined covariates. Higher PM2.5 was associated with increased TC (+1.17 mg/dL), TG (+4.99 mg/dL), and non-HDL-C (+2.89 mg/dL), and decreased HDL-C (−1.72 mg/dL). PM₁₀ showed similar significant associations. Interaction analyses revealed effect modification by dyslipidemia diagnosis for TC, TG, non-HDL-C, and LDL-C. These findings remained robust to alternative variance estimation, additional cardiometabolic adjustment, and exclusion of Asian dust (Hwangsa) days. Higher annual PM concentrations were associated with a more adverse lipid profile, with stronger associations for several lipid markers among individuals with diagnosed dyslipidemia, suggesting greater susceptibility in this group.

doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2026.2762764PubMed 43024800Populations