Effect of Air Pollution on Blood Pressure, Blood Lipids, and Blood Sugar: A Population-Based Approach

Objective: To investigate changes in blood pressure, lipids, and sugar associated with changes in exposure to ambient air pollution. Methods: We conducted secondary analyses of blood pressure and biochemistry markers from Taiwanese Survey on Prevalence of Hyperglycemia, Hyperlipidemia, and Hypertension and air pollution monitoring data in 2002 by applying generalized additive models. Results: We observed increased particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <10 mu m was associated with elevated systolic blood pressure (an interquartile range, 34 mu g/m(3), for 0.47 mmHg; 95% CI, -0.09 to 1.02), triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, hemoglobin A1c, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Elevated ozone was associated with increased diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein B, and hemoglobin A1c. Conclusions: Alterations of atherosclerotic indicators are associated with particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters <10 mu m and ozone changes. This might provide a link between air pollution and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.