High Lead Exposure Associated With Higher Blood Pressure in Haiti: a Warning Sign for Low-Income Countries

Author(s):  
Lily D. Yan ◽  
Vanessa Rouzier ◽  
Jean Lookens Pierre ◽  
Myung Hee Lee ◽  
Paul Muntner ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in lower-income countries including Haiti. Environmental lead exposure is associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality in high-income countries but has not been systematically measured and evaluated as a potential modifiable cardiovascular risk factor in lower-income countries where 6.5 billion people reside. We hypothesized lead exposure is high in urban Haiti and associated with higher blood pressure levels. Blood lead levels were measured in 2504 participants ≥18 years enrolled in a longitudinal population-based cohort study in Port-au-Prince. Lead screening was conducted using LeadCare II (detection limit ≥3.3 µg/dL). Levels below detection were imputed by dividing the level of detection by √2. Associations between lead (quartiles) and systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were assessed, adjusting for age, sex, obesity, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, income, and antihypertensive medication use. The median age of participants was 40 years and 60.1% were female. The geometric mean blood lead level was 4.73µg/dL, 71.1% had a detectable lead level and 42.3% had a blood lead level ≥5 µg/dL. After multivariable adjustment, lead levels in quartile four (≥6.5 µg/dL) compared with quartile 1 (<3.4 µg/dL) were associated with 2.42 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.36–4.49) higher systolic blood pressure and 1.96 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.56–3.37) higher diastolic blood pressure. In conclusion, widespread environmental lead exposure is evident in urban Haiti, with higher lead levels associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Lead is a current and potentially modifiable pollutant in lower-income countries that warrants urgent public health remediation. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03892265.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Fung Tsoi ◽  
Chris Wai Hang Lo ◽  
Tommy Tsang Cheung ◽  
Bernard Man Yung Cheung

AbstractLead is a heavy metal without a biological role. High level of lead exposure is known to be associated with hypertension, but the risk at low levels of exposure is uncertain. In this study, data from US NHANES 1999–2016 were analyzed. Adults with blood lead and blood pressure measurements, or self-reported hypertension diagnosis, were included. If not already diagnosed, hypertension was defined according to the AHA/ACC 2017 hypertension guideline. Results were analyzed using R statistics version 3.5.1 with sample weight adjustment. Logistic regression was used to study the association between blood lead level and hypertension. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated. Altogether, 39,477 participants were included. Every doubling in blood lead level was associated with hypertension (OR [95%CI] 1.45 [1.40–1.50]), which remained significant after adjusting for demographics. Using quartile 1 as reference, higher blood lead levels were associated with increased adjusted odds of hypertension (Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1: 1.22 [1.09–1.36]; Quartile 3 vs. Quartile 1: 1.15 [1.04–1.28]; Quartile 2 vs. Quartile 1: 1.14 [1.05–1.25]). In conclusion, blood lead level is associated with hypertension in the general population with blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL. Our findings suggest that reducing present levels of environmental lead exposure may bring cardiovascular benefits by reducing blood pressure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 941-946
Author(s):  
Shuaib Ahmed M. A ◽  
Raghav Sharma ◽  
Shama Prakash K

BACKGROUND Hypertension is one of the most common diseases all over the world. Lead is a common environmental and industrial pollutant with no beneficial biological role. The contribution of environmental lead exposure to hypertension is an important public health concern. The objective of this study was to determine the blood lead levels in hypertensive patients and to investigate the correlation between blood lead (B-Pb) levels and the values of blood pressure in hypertensive patients. METHODS This is a hospital based analytical cross-sectional study conducted over a period of one and half years. Subjects included 50 newly detected hypertensive and 50 healthy subjects recruited who were both age and sex matched. Mean of age, blood lead levels, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with standard deviation were assessed. Linear regression was used to estimate the predicted systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP with lead levels. Pearson correlation was used to estimate the correlation between blood lead and blood pressure levels. RESULTS In this study, 52 % of cases and controls were in the age group of 41 - 60 years. 22 % of the subjects were more than 61 years of age. 45 % of the total subjects were females and 55 % were males. 46 % of the controls and 44 % of the cases were females. Comparison of the serum lead levels (mcg / dl) between cases and controls showed that serum lead levels (mcg / dl) were higher in Cases group with a t-value of -7.38 and was statistically significant with a P-value of < 0.001. Comparison of the serum lead levels (mcg / dl) between the males and females showed that serum lead levels (mcg / dl) were higher in female group with a t-value of - 0.151 and was statistically non-significant with a P-value of 0.881. This study showed that there is an increase in blood lead levels in hypertensive patients compared to the control group. Stage 2 hypertension has higher serum lead level value of 21.228 compared to stage 1. Serum lead levels were higher in females compared to males. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicated that blood lead level is significantly and positively correlated to blood pressure among newly detected hypertensive patients. Increase in blood lead levels causes increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. KEY WORDS Hypertension, Lead, Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure


2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 333-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Jarosińska ◽  
Maja Muszyńska-Graca ◽  
Beata Dąbkowska ◽  
Joanna Kasznia-Kocot ◽  
lwona Sakowska-Maliszewska ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e036687
Author(s):  
Mbalenhle Desiree Cindi ◽  
Thokozani Patrick Mbonane ◽  
Nisha Naicker

IntroductionLead exposure is toxic to all humans and is very harmful to young children, especially 5-year-olds. Elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in children have been associated with their daily surrounding environment. This protocol seeks to evaluate the association between environmental lead exposure and BLLs among children in day-care centres, including household and other risk factors.Methods and analysisTo achieve the objectives of the study, we adopted a cross-sectional analytical design. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyser was used for environmental sampling, and BLLs were determined using the LeadCare II machine among preschool children. Household and other risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. Random sampling was employed to select day-care centres in the municipality and children in each day-care centre. Data will be analysed using SPSS V. 26.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval and permission were obtained prior to commencement of the study. The researcher intends to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals and also to present a paper at a scientific conference. The study will generate information on environmental lead exposure among vulnerable children (2–5 years), and it will promote public health action to prevent long-term exposure in day-care centres.


2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-mei Jiang ◽  
Hua Shi ◽  
Jia-yuan Li ◽  
Chuan Shen ◽  
Jin-hao Liu ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 7-12
Author(s):  
Ekaniyere Benlance Edetanlen ◽  
◽  
Ozoemene Ndubuisi Obuekwe ◽  

Background: Environmental and occupational lead exposures are known to cause an elevated blood pressure but can this concept be applied to missile-related lead exposure? Methods: We implemented a controlled, cohort study design to examine study samples with long-standing missiles in craniomaxillofacial region using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and standard sphygmomanometry to measure the blood lead levels and blood pressure respectively. The predictor variable was blood lead levels and the outcome variable were blood pressure. Other variables were age, number of pellets, and duration of retention. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics were computed and the P-value was set at 0.05. Results: There was a significant, strong and positive association seen between diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.34;P< 0.001) unlike systolic blood pressure that showed an insignificant, weak and negative associations with blood lead levels(r = - 0.01, P = 0.82). Binary logistic regression showed that blood lead levels, though less significant, (OR= 1.24, P = 0.01, 95%CI = 1.04-1.42) had a higher likelihood to cause hypertension than the age of the patients (OR = 1.03, 95%CI=1.01-1.04, 0.003). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest an association between missiles-related lead exposure and the diastolic blood pressure.


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