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| Poster #229 Examining the Effects of Air Pollution on Odor Identification in Aging |
| Vicente Ramirez & Valentina Parma Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States |
Prior analysis of the 1986 National Geographic Smell Survey (NGSS) linked air pollution exposure to impaired olfactory function, with a 5-12% reduction in the odds of correctly identifying odors per standard increase in gaseous air pollutants. Yet, results were mixed: pollutants like O₃ were significantly associated with low odor identification scores (<2 odors identified) but not high scores (4 vs. 5 odors). We hypothesize that air pollution disproportionately affects individuals at greater risk for reduced olfactory function, such as older adults. This study investigates age-stratified effects of air pollution on olfactory function. NGSS data were merged with EPA Air Quality System data. Exposures to PM₁₀, SO₂, O₃, NO₂, and Pb were assigned by zip code. Age groups (10-20, 21-35, 36-50, 51-65, 66-80, 80+ years) were analyzed using multilevel binomial logistic regression with random intercepts. Covariates included sex and smoking status. Multipollutant models revealed significant associations between pollutant exposure and odor identification scores for NO₂ and O₃ across most age groups, except for individuals 80+ (N=588). NO₂ exposure was negatively associated with olfactory performance in all age groups, strongest in ages 36-50 (OR=0.93, CI 0.91-0.94) and weakest in ages 10-20 (OR=0.97, CI 0.94-0.996). O₃ exhibited a positive association with odor identification in individuals aged 20-80 (OR=1.04-1.06). NO₂ is significantly associated with impaired olfactory function across most age groups, except the oldest cohort, highlighting its widespread impact. The association with O₃ may indicate a protective effect; however, the inverse relationship between O₃ and NO₂ suggests potential confounding by local environmental conditions, which deserves to be further investigated. |