Long-term effects of PM2.5 components on blood pressure and hypertension in Chinese children and adolescents

Growing evidence has linked fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure to elevated blood pressure, but the effects of PM2.5 components are unclear, particularly in children and adolescents. Based on a cross-sectional investigation in China, we analyzed the associations between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its major components with elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents. A representative sample (N = 37,610) of children and adolescents with age 7–18 years was collected in seven Chinese provinces. Exposures to PM2.5 and five of its major components, including black carbon (BC), organic matter (OM), inorganic nitrate (NO3−), sulfate (SO42−), and soil particles (SOIL), were estimated using satellite-based spatiotemporal models. The associations between long-term exposures to PM2.5 and its components and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and hypertension were investigated using mixed-effects logistic and linear regression models. Within the populations, 11.5 % were classified as hypertension. After adjusting for a variety of covariates, per interquartile range (IQR) increment in PM2.5 mass and BC levels were significantly associated with a higher hypertension prevalence with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.56 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 2.25) for PM2.5 and 1.19 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.35) for BC. Long-term exposures to PM2.5 and BC have also been associated with elevated SBP and DBP. Additionally, OM and NO3− were significantly associated with increased SBP, while SOIL was significantly associated with increased DBP. In the subgroup analysis, the associations between long-term exposures to BC and blood pressure vary significantly by urbanicity of residential area and diet habits. Our study suggests that long-term exposure to PM2.5 mass and specific PM2.5 components, especially for BC, are significantly associated with elevated blood pressure and a higher hypertension prevalence in Chinese children and adolescents.