Overview

• University of Leicester researchers examined data from 207,421 UK Biobank participants, comparing diet, PM2.5 exposure and lung function measured by FEV1.
• For each 5 µg/m³ rise in PM2.5, FEV1 fell by 78.1 ml in low fruit consumers versus 57.5 ml in high fruit–consuming women, with the strongest association at four or more portions a day.
• The team posits antioxidants and anti‑inflammatory compounds in fruit may counter pollution‑related oxidative stress, and notes men reported lower fruit intake than women.
• External experts emphasize the findings are observational with possible residual confounding and warn that unequal access to healthy foods limits individual‑level solutions.
• Asthma + Lung UK urges stronger, legally binding air‑quality targets aligned with WHO guidance and cautions that diet supports rather than replaces prescribed treatments, as the researchers plan longitudinal follow‑up.