Early exposure to air pollution raises children’s risk of high blood pressure, posing long-term threats to heart health, a new study warns.
A scientific study has revealed that exposure to air pollutants at an early age significantly increases the risk of children developing high blood pressure during their school years, raising serious concerns about long-term cardiovascular health.
Researchers found that fine particulate matter in the air can enter the body during fetal development and continue to affect children after birth. This exposure was shown to influence blood pressure levels during childhood and may have lasting effects on heart health later in life.
According to the researchers, fine particles are a common type of air pollutant formed in smog. Even low levels of exposure were found to have long-term negative effects on children’s health. The study analyzed data from more than 4,800 children aged between 5 and 12 years. Blood pressure measurements were taken and compared with their exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and the first two years of life.
The findings indicated that exposure to air pollution before birth and in early infancy is associated with increased blood pressure, particularly systolic blood pressure. The study also noted that exposure to nitrogen dioxide, especially during the later stages of pregnancy, was linked to a slight decrease in blood pressure in children. However, the research team emphasized that further studies are needed to better understand this relationship.
Researchers described the findings as particularly concerning, especially in light of the fact that rates of high blood pressure among children have increased by nearly 80 percent over the past two decades.
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