Sep 2026· International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS)· 0 citations· 47 references
TL;DR
The findings demonstrated a consistent association between NO₂ exposure and an increased risk of hypertension, particularly in poorly ventilated work environments, and underscore the importance of improving workplace air quality management, strengthening exposure monitoring, and implementing preventive occupational health strategies.
Abstract
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a major air pollutant generated from fossil fuel combustion in transportation and industrial activities and is associated with adverse health effects. Prolonged exposure to NO₂ may induce chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which contribute to the development of hypertension. This study aimed to systematically review the association between NO₂ exposure and the incidence of hypertension among workers. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, with literature searches performed in Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect for publications from 2020 to 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised full-text articles in English or Indonesian employing observational study designs (cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, or ecological) and involving workers in both formal and informal sectors. Eligible studies examined NO₂ exposure as the independent variable and hypertension as the outcome. Of 2,051 records identified, five studies met the inclusion criteria, originating from China and Nigeria. Risk of bias was assessed using the office of health assessment and translation (OHAT) risk of bias tool. The findings demonstrated a consistent association between NO₂ exposure and an increased risk of hypertension, particularly in poorly ventilated work environments. These results underscore the importance of improving workplace air quality management, strengthening exposure monitoring, and implementing preventive occupational health strategies.
Summary Although a multitude of meta-analyses have indicated an association between air pollution and hypertension (HTN), substantial heterogeneity exists across these studies. This research aims to systematically assess the cumulative evidence on the link between air pollutants and both HTN and gestational hypertension (GH) through existing systematic reviews. A comprehensive literature search was performed in three databases (Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science) up to September 8, 2025. The AMSTAR 2 tool was adopted to evaluate the methodological quality of the included reviews. Totally, 11 eligible meta-analyses (8 on HTN and 3 on GH) were identified. Collectively, the available evidence supports a plausible role of PM2.5 and PM10 in elevating essential HTN risk; however, the association with GH remains inconclusive due to the limited studies. Further prospective cohort studies and investigations into biological mechanisms are needed to clarify the influences of air pollution on both HTN and GH.
The deterioration of ambient air quality worldwide has intensified the need to examine the environmental factors associated with the growing burden of respiratory disease. This study aimed to identify broad patterns in the adverse effects of environmental exposures on the respiratory system, while accounting for regional variation and population-specific vulnerability. A systematic literature review was conducted between April and December 2024 using four international databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Seventy-one relevant publications were included in the final analysis. The findings indicate that, in India, concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of up to 10 μm (PM₁₀) and 2.5 μm (PM₂.₅) exceed recommended limits by a factor of 2.56. In Northern Thailand, reductions of 5.3%–34.3% in particulate matter concentrations were associated with significant declines in hospitalization rates. In China and South Africa, pollutant levels substantially exceed the World Health Organization guideline of 5 μg/m³, while national standards in some settings permit concentrations of up to 40 μg/m³, thereby increasing the risk of chronic inflammatory respiratory conditions. In Bogotá, Colombia, heavy traffic contributes to increased morbidity and mortality from respiratory complications. In Kyrgyzstan, seasonal variation and changes in vegetation patterns have been linked to a rise in allergic reactions, whereas in Slovakia, prolonged pollen seasons are associated with a higher prevalence of bronchial asthma. Children, particularly those under 5 years of age, older adults, and industrial workers were identified as the most vulnerable groups. Climate change further aggravates these risks by intensifying exposure to fine particulate matter and gaseous pollutants. The findings underscore the need for integrated policies focused on emission reduction, environmental monitoring, public awareness, and the harmonization of air-quality standards. The study provides evidence that may support cross-sectoral planning and the development of preventive strategies aimed at reducing the burden of acute and chronic respiratory disease.
Zhanibek Muratov, Aida Zotaj, A. Kalandarova et al.· Luna Azul· 0 citations
Mercury presents a significant environmental health hazard due to its ability to bioaccumulate in the food chain, posing risks through the consumption of contaminated fish. This systematic review aims to analyze and compare mercury levels in human populations, specifically focusing on the health risks associated with fish consumption in urban versus rural areas. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and included articles published between January 1, 2020 and March 15, 2025 from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. A total of 768 articles were identified, and seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed, and study quality was assessed using the JBI checklist and risk of bias assessment with ROBINS-E. Data were extracted and synthesized using RevMan 5.4 for the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed substantially higher mercury levels in rural populations (SMD 2.76; 95% CI: 2.63–2.89), largely influenced by dietary patterns, predominant fish species, and environmental contamination levels. Health effects associated with elevated mercury exposure included neurodevelopmental risks, elevated mercury levels in pregnant women, and increased vulnerability among populations with high reliance on freshwater fish. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies to mitigate mercury exposure while maintaining the nutritional benefits of fish consumption.
A. A. S. Sadana, Tanthowi Jauhari, John Ringo et al.· Journal of Public Health and...· 0 citations
Occupational PAH exposure is modestly associated with upper gastrointestinal cancer risk, particularly esophageal cancer, with higher risk estimates observed in high-exposure occupations.
M. S. Seyyedsalehi, Anna Vrtev, M. Lanza et al.· European Journal of Cancer P...· 0 citations
A significant causal relationship between long-term PM exposure and elevated prevalence and mortality of T2DM is confirmed and populations susceptible to diabetes are recommended to take targeted measures to reduce air pollution exposure.
Jianming Jiao· Theoretical and Natural Scie...· 0 citations
INTRODUCTION
Urban air pollution is a critical environmental determinant of pediatric respiratory health. This PRISMA 2020-guided systematic review synthesizes evidence on the association between short-term exposure to urban ambient air pollutants and asthma-related morbidity in children under five years of age.
METHODS
PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for urban time-series or case-crossover studies published between 2021 and 2025 (final search: 15 January 2026). Eligible outcomes included hospital admissions, emergency department visits, or urgent consultations in children aged 0-5 years. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed study quality. Due to methodological heterogeneity, a structured narrative synthesis was performed.
RESULTS
Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Across settings, short-term increases in particulate matter (PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}) and nitrogen dioxide (NO_2) were consistently associated with increased asthma-related hospitalizations or urgent visits. Stronger effects were reported during cold seasons and in high-traffic environments.
CONCLUSIONS
Short-term exposure to traffic-related and particulate pollutants exacerbates asthma morbidity in vulnerable preschool children. However, the certainty of evidence was rated as low due to residual confounding, potential exposure misclassification inherent to observational designs, and the limited number of eligible studies. These findings support strengthening urban air-quality policies.
PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO (Identifier: CRD420251251275; Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251251275.
Fernando Martín López Domínguez, José Ricardo Tosca Jiménez, Sergio Quiroz Gómez· Expert Review of Respiratory...· 0 citations
