Air pollution and arterial hypertension. A new risk factor is in the air

Volcanic smog and cardiometabolic health: Hawaiian hypertension?

“…Animal experiments add further mechanistic support that chronic exposures can promote long‐lasting BP elevations . As such, mounting evidence supports that PM 2.5 is a risk factor of global importance for the development of hypertension . Moreover, there is a growing scientific literature that insulin resistance and DM are also provoked by air pollutants …”

“…As such, both the American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology have deemed PM 2.5 as a causal risk factor for global cardiovascular diseases . In addition, we and others have shown that PM 2.5 air pollution potentiates the development of cardiometabolic conditions—high BP, diabetes mellitus (DM), and atherosclerosis . Short‐term exposures over a few hours to days significantly increase BP by several mechanisms.…”

“…Short‐term exposures over a few hours to days significantly increase BP by several mechanisms. The pro‐hypertensive response, typified by an increase in BP by 1‐10 mm Hg depending upon individual susceptibility and PM 2.5 concentrations, is not limited to extremely high PM 2.5 levels but occurs even within daily WHO AQG (<20 µg/m 3 ) . Importantly, the elevation in BP has been shown to persist indefinitely—so long as air pollution levels remain high.…”

“…In support of this supposition, numerous studies have shown that the inhalation of aerosol particles regardless of source (rural and urban), size range (fine and coarse), and composition are capable of raising BP . Many environmental factors are known to increase BP, should vog be added to this growing list (eg, “Hawaiian hypertension”) . If so, what is the total public health toll after accounting for these putative cardiometabolic effects given the dramatic increase in vog throughout 2018?…”

“…While several studies link vog to a worsening of respiratory ailments is not limited to extremely high PM 2.5 levels but occurs even within daily WHO AQG (<20 µg/m 3 ). [8][9][10][11] Importantly, the elevation in BP has been shown to persist indefinitely-so long as air pollution levels remain high. Animal experiments add further mechanistic support that chronic exposures can promote long-lasting BP elevations.…”