Cohort study, 2020
Does air pollution increase the risk of premenstrual syndrome?
Yes. Women exposed to higher levels of air pollution had significantly increased risk of PMS. Exposure to the highest levels of certain pollutants increased PMS risk by 3 to 7.77 times.
What they did
Large cohort study in Taiwan that combined air quality monitoring data with health insurance records. Followed 85,078 women without a PMS diagnosis and measured their exposure to different types of air pollution based on where they lived.
What they found
Women exposed to highest levels of SO2 had 7.77 times higher PMS risk compared to lowest exposure. Highest NOx exposure: 2.86 times higher risk. Highest NO exposure: 3.17 times higher risk. Highest PM2.5 exposure: 3.41 times higher risk.
What it means for you
Women in high-pollution areas have higher PMS rates, suggesting environmental factors matter. The strongest link was SO2. However, this observational Taiwan study cannot prove pollution causes PMS. Results may not apply elsewhere. It is unclear if high-pollution groups differ in other ways affecting PMS risk.
7.77
times higher PMS risk with highest SO2 exposure
3.41
times higher PMS risk with highest PM2.5 exposure
85,078
women studied
About the study
- Original title
- Association of fine-particulate and acidic-gas air pollution with premenstrual syndrome risk
- Authors
- Lin SY, Yang YC, Chang CY et al.
- Journal
- QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 85,078
- What was tested
- None. Observational study examining exposure based on where women lived.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa096