Short-term effects of ambient particulate matter on blood pressure among children and adolescents:A cross-sectional study in a city of Yangtze River delta, China.

Abstract Several studies have demonstrated associations between short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and blood pressure (BP) among various adults groups, but evidence in children and adolescents is still rare. In 2016, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 194 104 participants aged 6–17 years in Suzhou, China. Daily concentrations of particulate matters with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 μg/m3 (PM10) and aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μg/m3 (PM2.5) on 0–6 days preceding BP examination were collected from nearby air monitoring stations. Using generalized linear mixed-effects models, short-term effects of PM on personal BP were estimated. A 10 μg/m3 increment in the 0–6 day mean of PM2.5 was significantly associated with elevation of 0.20 mmHg [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.16–0.23] in systolic BP (SBP), 0.49 mmHg (95% CI 0.45–0.53) in diastolic BP (DBP), respectively. Similarly, 0.14 mmHg (95% CI 0.12–0.16) higher SBP and 0.32 mmHg (95% CI 0.30–0.34) higher DBP were found for each 10 μg/m3 increase in 0–6 day mean of PM10. More apparent associations were observed in females than in males. Odds ratio (95%CI) of for PM2.5 exposure at 0–6 d mean was 1.06 (1.03–1.08) in females, while it was 1.01 (0.99–1.03) in males. Participants with young ages, underweight and obesity were also associated with increased susceptibility to PM-induced BP effects. Short-term exposure in PM was significantly associated with elevated BP in children, indicating a need to control PM levels and protect children from PM exposure in China.