Exploring the impact of traffic-related air pollution on the gut microbiota of school-age children: preliminary evidence

Over the last few years, investigating the changes of gut microbiota after the exposure to airborne pollution has gained increasing interest, due to the evidence that altered microbial communities may contribute to the development of chronic diseases.This pilot study aimed to examine the richness and diversity of gut microbiota of school-age children living in close proximity to highly trafficked roads, via 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Furthermore, the impact of common risk factors for chronic disease, including the diet, body mass index, and environmental tobacco smoke, on the gut microbiota composition was also explored.