Association between long-term air pollution and increased blood pressure and hypertension in China.
Several studies have investigated the short-term effects of ambient air pollutants in the development of high blood pressure and hypertension. However, little information exists regarding the health effects of long-term exposure. To investigate the association between residential long-term exposure to air pollution and blood pressure and hypertension, we studied 24 845 Chinese adults in 11 districts of 3 northeastern cities from 2009 to 2010. Three-year average concentration of particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm (PM(10)), sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), nitrogen dioxides (NO(2)), and ozone (O(3)) were calculated from monitoring stations in the 11 districts. We used generalized additive models and 2-level logistic regressions models to examine the health effects. The results showed that the odds ratio for hypertension increased by 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.16) per 19 μg/m(3) increase in PM(10), 1.11 (95% CI, 1.04-1.18) per 20 μg/m(3) increase in SO(2), and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.06-1.20) per 22 μg/m(3) increase in O(3). The estimated increases in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 0.87 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.48-1.27) and 0.32 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.08-0.56) per 19 μg/m(3) interquartile increase in PM(10), 0.80 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.46-1.14) and 0.31 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.10-0.51) per 20 μg/m(3) interquartile increase in SO(2), and 0.73 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.35-1.11) and 0.37 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.14-0.61) per 22 μg/m(3) interquartile increase in O(3). These associations were only statistically significant in men. In conclusion, long-term exposure to PM(10), SO(2), and O(3) was associated with increased arterial blood pressure and hypertension in the study population.
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Guang-Hui
GH
Dong
Zhengmin Min
ZM
Qian
Pamela K
PK
Xaverius
Edwin
E
Trevathan
Salwa
S
Maalouf
Jamaal
J
Parker
Laiji
L
Yang
Miao-Miao
MM
Liu
Da
D
Wang
Wan-Hui
WH
Ren
Wenjun
W
Ma
Jing
J
Wang
Alan
A
Zelicoff
Qiang
Q
Fu
Maayan
M
Simckes
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide