Journal of King Saud University: Science (Dec 2024)
Association between air pollutants particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ground-level ozone (O3) and hypertension
Abstract
Background: Air pollution causes numerous debilitating diseases and premature deaths. This study explores the relationship between air pollutants particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOC), ground-level ozone (O3) and hypertension (HTN). Methods: The air pollutants and hypertension data were recorded from the “Pub Med, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar.” We searched the data using the keywords on exposure (air pollutants) and outcome (hypertension). Primarily, 108 documents were selected, and after studying the summaries and complete articles, 28 studies were selected for analysis and discussion. The impact of air pollutants on hypertension was investigated through a compilation of 28 studies, from multiple countries, encompassing a total sample size of 2,540,441. Results: Increased exposure to environmental pollutants PM2.5 (OR = 1.05; 95 % CI:1.02, 1.08; p < 0.01); PM10 (OR = 1.25; 95 % CI: 1.04, 1.49; p = 0.02); NO2 (OR = 1.12; 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.25; p = 0.04); SO2 (OR = 1.17; 95 % CI:1.04, 1.31; p = 0.02); and VOCs (OR = 2.45;95 % CI:1.36, 4,41; p = 0.01) were significantly associated with increased incidence of HTN. However, O3 exposure was positive but not significantly linked with an elevated risk of HTN (OR = 1.35; 95 % CI: 0.67, 2,72; p = 0.27). Conclusions: Air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and VOC positively and significantly enhanced the risk of hypertension. Environmental pollutants-reducing policies could be a dynamic planned approach to lessen cardiovascular risks in global populations. The strategies such as emission controls, promotion of clean energy sources, and transportation policies, that directly impact air pollution levels will have direct implications on cardiovascular health and decrease the overall occurrence of hypertension in the global population. Additionally, public health campaigns to promote cardiovascular health should incorporate education about the risk of air pollution exposure.
