How Does Air Pollution Increase Blood Pressure?

A new study addressed the association between long-term exposure to these particles and the incidence of hypertension in a prospective manner among the Spanish population.

Long-term exposure to particulate matter has been associated with high blood pressure, according to a study published in Scientific Reports by the Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM) and the Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga (IBIMA).

According to the WHO, air pollution is the greatest health risk worldwide, accounting for more than 4.2 million deaths annually.

Air Pollution - Pollutants - Health Effect - Efforts to Reduce
Nearly 2.4 million deaths every year are attributable to air pollution. Air pollutants may be solid particles, liquid droplets or gases. Proper planning methods should be adopted to reduce air pollution.

‘The need to improve air quality to the extent possible to reduce the risk of high blood pressure among our population, even moderate levels can increase the risk significantly.’

Researchers have carried out a study, where 1103 people aged between 18 and 83 took part. None of the participants presented high blood pressure hypertension at the start of the study (2008-2010), and they were monitored until 2016-17.

The participants were assigned air pollution concentrations for particulate matter, obtained through combined modeling, with measurements taken at air quality stations. During this period, 282 cases of incident high blood pressure were recorded.

The study has been carried out in collaboration with the air pollution department of the Research Centre for Energy, Environment, and Technology (CIEMAT).

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As explained by Sergio Valdés, CIBERDEM researcher at the IBIMA and endocrinologist at Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, “Several previous studies have described the short- and long-term association of ambient air pollutants with hypertension and blood pressure levels, but few studies have addressed the association between long-term exposure to these particles and the incidence of hypertension in a prospective manner. Therefore, this study has offered us the opportunity to do so in the Spanish population”.

This study data is consistent with a large body of evidence suggesting that air pollution may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. It also supports the idea that the particulate component of air pollution is the greatest threat to the cardiovascular system.

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Source-Medindia

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