Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4469770 Environmental Research 2015 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

•We studied the association of pollutants in adipose tissue with hypertension risk.•Samples were collected at recruitment and participants followed for 10 years.•HCB, β-HCH and PCBs were associated with hypertension in individuals with BMI>26.3.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of adipose tissue concentrations of a group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the risk of hypertension in an adult cohort of residents of Granada (Southern Spain) over a 10-year follow-up. No chemical was significantly associated with the risk of hypertension in the overall population or when models were stratified by sex or median age. However, we found positive associations between log-transformed POP concentrations and hypertension risk in participants with body mass index (BMI) above the median value of 26.3 kg/m2, which were statistically significant for hexachlorobenzene (HR=1.26, 95% CI=1.03–1.56), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HR=1.25, 95% CI=1.03–1.51), and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners -138 (HR=1.32, 95% CI=1.04–1.69) and -153 (HR=1.36, 95% CI=1.00–1.84). Inverse associations were observed in the subgroup with BMI≤26.3 kg/m2, but none was statistically significant. More research and a longer follow-up period are warranted to verify these associations and elucidate the role of obesity as a potential effect modifier. Given the elevated worldwide frequency of POP exposure and hypertension, the public health impact of this relationship may be substantial.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Environmental Science Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
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