US EPA

7499327 

Journal Article 

Exposure to ambient particulate matter air pollution, blood pressure and hypertension in children and adolescents: A national cross-sectional study in China 

Zhang, Z; Dong, B; Li, S; Chen, G; Yang, Z; Dong, Y; Wang, Z; Ma, J; Guo, Y 

2019 

1 

Environment International
ISSN: 0160-4120
EISSN: 1873-6750 

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD 

OXFORD 

128 

1 

103-108 

English 

31035113 

10.1016/j.envint.2019.04.036 

WOS:000467938500013 

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S016041201930354X
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BACKGROUND: Air pollution has been associated with elevated blood pressure in adults. However, epidemiological evidence from children and adolescents is limited. We investigated the associations between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution and blood pressure in a large population of children and adolescents.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed in a nationally representative sample consisting of 43,745 children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years in seven provinces in China. Exposure to ambient fine particles (PM2.5) and thoracic particles (PM10) was estimated using spatiotemporal models based on satellite remote sensing, meteorological data and land use information. Mixed-effects (two-level) linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between PM exposure and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and hypertension.

RESULTS: After adjustment for a wide range of covariates, every 10 μg/m3 increment in PM2.5 and PM10 concentration was associated with 1.46 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05, 2.88] and 1.36 (95% CI: 0.34, 2.39) mmHg increases in SBP, respectively. PM10 was also associated with higher prevalence of hypertension [odds ratio per 10 μg/m3 increment: 1.45 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.95)].

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to ambient PM air pollution was associated with increased blood pressure and higher prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents. Our findings support air pollution reduction strategies as a prevention measure of childhood hypertension, a well-recognized risk factor of future cardiovascular health. 

Adolescent; Child, Preschool; China/epidemiology; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects/statistics & numerical data; Hypertension/epidemiology; Particulate Matter/toxicity; Time Factors; Blood pressure; Pm(2).5