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Title: | Blood pressure and particulate air pollution in schoolchildren of Lahore, Pakistan | Authors: | Sughis, Muhammad NAWROT, Tim Ihsan-ul-Haque, Syed Amjad, Asad Nemery, Benoit |
Issue Date: | 2012 | Publisher: | BIOMED CENTRAL LTD | Source: | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 12 | Abstract: | Background: Air pollution is a growing health problem for urban populations in emerging economies. The present study examines the (cross-sectional) relation between blood pressure and particulate air pollution in schoolchildren of Lahore (Pakistan). Methods: We recruited a sample of 8-12 year-old children (mean age 9.9 years; 45% girls) from two schools in Lahore situated in areas with low (n = 79) and high (n = 100) air pollution, respectively. During the study period (January-April 2009) particulate pollution [PM10 and PM2.5 i.e. particles with aerodynamic diameters below 10 mu m or 2.5 mu m, respectively] was measured at the school sites with a laser operated device (Metone Aerocet 531). Blood pressure was measured, after 5 minutes of sitting rest, using an automated device (average of 5 consecutive measurements). Spot urine samples were also collected and concentrations of Na and K were measured. Results: Mean daily values of PM2.5 were 28.5 mu g/m(3) (SD: 10.3) and 183 mu g/m(3) (SD: 30.2), in the low and high pollution areas, respectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in children living in the high pollution area (115.9/70.9 mm Hg) than in the low pollution area (108.3/66.4 mm Hg), independently of age, gender, height, weight, socio-economic status, passive smoking and the urinary concentrations of Na, K, and creatinine. Conclusions: In 8-12 year-old children, exposure to (traffic-related) air pollution was associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These findings, if they persist, might have clinical relevance at older age. | Notes: | Nemery, B (reprint author), Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Publ Hlth, Louvain, Belgium. Hasselt Univ, Ctr Environm Sci, Diepenbeek, Belgium. Ctr Res Publ Hlth, Lahore, Pakistan. Lahore Coll Pharmaceut Sci, Lahore, Pakistan. ben.nemery@med.kuleuven.be | Keywords: | Public, Environmental & Occupational Health | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/15317 | e-ISSN: | 1471-2458 | DOI: | 10.1186/1471-2458-12-378 | ISI #: | 000306565600001 | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2014 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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