Indoor Air Pollution and Blood Pressure in Adult Women Living in Rural China

Abstract

Background: Almost half of the world’s population uses coal and biomass fuels for domestic energy. Limited evidence suggests that exposure to air pollutants from indoor biomass combustion may be associated with elevated blood pressure (BP).Objective: Our aim was to assess the relationship between air pollution exposure from indoor biomass combustion and BP in women in rural China.Methods: We measured 24-hr personal integrated gravimetric exposure to fine particles < 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) in the winter and summer among 280 women ≥ 25 years of age living in rural households using biomass fuels in Yunnan, China. We investigated the association between PM2.5 exposure and SBP and DBP using mixed-effects models with random intercepts to account for correlation among repeated measures.Results: Personal average 24-hr exposure to PM2.5 ranged from 22 to 634 µg/m3 in winter and from 9 to 492 µg/m3 in summer. A 1-log-µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure was associated with 2.2 mm Hg higher SBP [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8 to 3.7; p = 0.003] and 0.5 mm Hg higher DBP (95% CI, –0.4 to 1.3; p = 0.31) among all women; estimated effects varied by age group. Among women > 50 years of age, a 1-log-µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure was associated with 4.1 mm Hg higher SBP (95% CI, 1.5 to 6.6; p = 0.002) and 1.8 mm Hg higher DBP (95% CI, 0.4 to 3.2; p = 0.01). PM2.5 exposure was positively associated with SBP among younger women, but the association was not statistically significant.Conclusion: PM2.5 exposure from biomass combustion may be a risk factor for elevated BP and hence for cardiovascular events. Our findings should be corroborated in longitudinal studies.

Highway proximity and black carbon from cookstoves as a risk factor for higher blood pressure in rural China

“…We measured each participant's height (centimeters), weight (kilograms), waist circumference (centimeters), and salt intake from cooked foods and used a pedometer to assess 24-h physical activity. Details on measurement of blood pressure and the other health and sociodemographic factors related to blood pressure are described elsewhere (11) and provided in Tables S1 and S2.…”

“…We used multivariate regression models from our previous study on PM 2.5 exposure and blood pressure (11) so that any differences in the results could be unambiguously attributed to the difference in pollution variables. The following variables were included in all regression models: age, waist circumference, physical activity (daily number of steps), socioeconomic status, daily salt intake, day of the week and time of day of blood pressure measurement, and ambient air temperature.…”

“…We previously found that daily exposure to PM <2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter (PM 2.5 ) was associated with higher blood pressure in older Chinese women cooking with biomass fuels (11). In the current study, we used chemical and optical methods to analyze the PM 2.5 exposure samples for BC and organic components and evaluated their associations with blood pressure, the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, worldwide and in China (1).…”

A practical biogas based energy neutral home system for rural communities of Bangladesh

“…18 High levels of cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, high blood pressure, etc., are found among adult females of rural areas where solid wood is used for cooking. 19 An allied research team conducted an epidemiological study to assess the real-life impact of biogas interventions on the risk of hypertension in rural Nepal considering two groups of cooks-(i) aged greater than 50 years and (ii) aged between 30-50 years. The study indicated that systolic blood pressure (SBP) increases with increasing age, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreases after 50 years, and lower SBP and DBP are more marked in biogas users than wood users.…”

Reforms for a Cleaner, Healthier Environment in China

“…General increases in temperatures can magnify the adverse effects of air pollution on health (Kan, 2011). Indoor air pollution generated from burning biomass fuel, which is still widely used in rural China, also harms health (Baumgartner et al, 2011). China has amongst the highest incidence of premature mortality due to outdoor PM exposure and this could worsen without policy action (OECD, 2012a).…”