PM2.5 levels strongly associate with multiple sclerosis prevalence in the Province of Padua, Veneto Region, North-East Italy

BACKGROUND: Incidence and prevalence trends of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Province of Padua, North-East Italy, suggest that environmental factors may be associated with increased MS risk. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of PM2.5 with MS prevalence in one of the most polluted geographical area of Italy. METHODS: ) allowed the identification of 18 classes of territorial sections with statistically evaluable numbers of inhabitants. Possible correlations between residential locality types, PM2.5 concentrations, and MS prevalence were investigated. CONCLUSION: In the Province of Padua, MS prevalence is strongly associated with PM2.5 exposure suggesting that air pollutants may be one of the possible environmental risk factors for MS.