Environmental pollution and its impact on hypertension: a review

Author: mycolabadmin
9/30/2025
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Summary

This review explains how environmental pollution from cars, factories, and industrial processes contributes to high blood pressure. Various pollutants like fine dust particles, heavy metals, and chemical vapors damage blood vessels and trigger inflammation in the body, leading to hypertension. Women after menopause and older adults are particularly vulnerable to these effects. The review emphasizes the importance of government policies, public education, and personal awareness in reducing pollution exposure and protecting heart health.

Background

Hypertension is a common chronic condition significantly impacting global health. Environmental pollutants including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been increasingly linked to hypertension development. Understanding the pathways connecting environmental pollutants to hypertension is essential for developing effective cardiovascular health strategies.

Objective

This review aims to systematically summarize current findings on the relationship between environmental pollution and hypertension, explore the biological mechanisms underlying this association, and suggest directions for future research. The goal is to enhance understanding of how pollutants affect hypertension and inspire new research in this important public health field.

Results

Epidemiological studies demonstrate strong associations between exposure to various pollutants and hypertension development. Multiple biological mechanisms were identified including inflammatory response, oxidative stress, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, cortisol dysregulation, and impaired kidney function. Women and older adults show increased susceptibility, and government policies and community interventions have shown effectiveness in reducing pollution-related health impacts.

Conclusion

Environmental pollution significantly contributes to hypertension through multiple biological mechanisms. Effective mitigation requires integrated approaches combining government regulations, public education, individual lifestyle changes, and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations. Future research should employ multidisciplinary approaches to understand interactions between multiple pollutants and individual genetic susceptibility.

Published in:Frontiers in Public Health,
Study Type:Review,
Source: PMC12518403, PMID: 41098746