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Leukocyte Telomere Length and PM2.5 Exposure Among Adults in Chiang Mai, Thailand
* 1, 2 , * 1 , 1, 2 , 3 , 3
1  Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiangmai, 50200, Thailand.
2  School of Health Sciences Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiangmai, 50200, Thailand.
3  The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
Academic Editor: Carlos Barata

Abstract:

Telomere length (TL) is a critical biomarker of cellular aging and has been increasingly associated with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure. This study investigates the profile of leukocyte TL with ambient PM2.5 exposure among adults residing in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A total of 182 participants were enrolled, consisting of 72% females, aged between 23 and 66 years, and stratified into three age groups: under 35 (n = 36), 35–49 (n = 88), and 50 years old or older (n = 58). Relative TL was measured from blood leukocytes using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), with results expressed as the telomere-to-single-copy gene (T/S) ratio. PM2.5 levels were retrieved from local monitoring stations and averaged across lag periods (in weeks). The mean TLs for participants aged <35, 35–49, and ≥50 were 0.83 ± 0.17, 0.81 ± 0.15, and 0.82 ± 0.13, respectively (P > 0.05), with no significant differences observed in age, BMI, smoking status, or gender among the groups. The mean PM2.5 concentration for Lag03 (3 weeks prior) was 45.9 ± 2.92 µg/m³, ranging from 42.6 to 51.2 µg/m³. Adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, and gender, the multivariable linear regression model showed that PM2.5 Lag03 was a significant predictor of TL, indicating that higher short-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with longer relative TL (B = 0.019, 95% CI = 0.11–0.29, β = 0.368, p < 0.001). In this study, TL was similar across the three age groups, while the overall TL values were much shorter than those found in a previous study of healthy nonsmokers in Chiang Mai (TL range: 1.35–1.00). Differences may stem from environmental exposures, measurement methods, or lifestyle. Further studies should explore the effects of PM2.5-bound chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, especially in the context of long-term exposure.

Keywords: Telomere length, PM2.5, Chiang Mai, Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)
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