Ambient PM1 air pollution, blood pressure, and hypertension: Insights from the 33 Communities Chinese Health Study.

Abstract No evidence exists concerning the association between blood pressure and ambient particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1.0 µm (PM 1), a major component of PM 2.5 (≤ 2.5 µm) particles, and potentially causing more hazardous health effects than PM 2.5. We aimed to examine the associations of blood pressure in adults with both PM 1 and PM 2.5 in China. In 2009, we randomly selected 24,845 participants aged 18–74 years from 33 communities in China. Using a standardized mercuric-column sphygmomanometer, we measured blood pressure. Long-term exposure (2006–08) to PM 1 and PM 2.5 were estimated using a spatial statistical model. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the associations between air pollutants and blood pressure and hypertension prevalence, controlling for multiple covariates. A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM 1 was significantly associated with an increase of 0.57 (95% CI 0.31–0.83) mmHg in systolic blood pressure (SBP), 0.19 (95% CI 0.03–0.35) mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and a 5% (OR=1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.10) increase in odds for hypertension. Similar associations were detected for PM 2.5. Furthermore, PM 1–2.5 showed no association with blood pressure or hypertension. In summary, both PM 1 and PM 2.5 exposures were associated with elevated blood pressure levels and hypertension prevalence in Chinese adults. In addition, most of the pro-hypertensive effects of PM 2.5 may come from PM 1. Further longitudinal designed studies are warranted to validate our findings. Highlights • Little information exists on pro-hypertensive effects of PM 1. • We investigated the topic in 24,845 Chinese adults. • Associations between PM 1 and PM 2.5 and blood pressure were examined. • Long-term PM 1 exposure was associated with higher blood pressure levels. • The pro-hypertensive effects of PM 2.5 were mainly come from PM 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]