# Association between polychlorinated biphenyls and hypertension risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds that exposure to certain polychlorinated biphenyls is linked to a higher risk of hypertension, especially with dioxin-like PCBs.

## Contribution

The study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis showing a novel association between specific PCB congeners and increased hypertension risk.

## Key findings

- Exposure to total PCBs is associated with a 78% higher risk of hypertension.
- Dioxin-like PCBs are linked to a 54% increased risk of hypertension.
- PCB congeners like PCB-74, PCB-118, PCB-105, and PCB-153 are significantly associated with higher hypertension risk.

## Abstract

Hypertension (HTN) is a widespread global health challenge, and its increasing prevalence is attributed to individual and environmental risk factors. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), especially polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), contribute to cardiovascular risk by accumulating in fatty tissues, which leads to oxidative stress and vascular inflammation. This review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between PCB exposure and hypertension.

Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, data sources such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched up to July 2024 to find observational studies on the link between PCBs and hypertension risk. Studies were reviewed and chosen according to established inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on observational studies examining PCB exposure and hypertension risk. Independent reviewers conducted data extraction, and the quality of studies was evaluated using the JBI critical appraisal tool. A meta-analysis with a random-effects model was conducted to determine combined odds ratios (ORs) for hypertension linked to total PCB exposure and specific PCB types.

Of the 494 records identified, 21 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 5 cohort studies, 15 cross-sectional studies, and one case-control study, totaling 51,514 participants. Exposure to total PCBs correlated with an elevated risk of hypertension (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.30–2.44). Dioxin-like PCBs were also associated with a heightened risk (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.24–1.90), while non-dioxin-like PCBs were not significantly linked (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.81–1.66). Among individual congeners, PCB-74, PCB-118, PCB-105, and PCB-153 were significantly related to higher hypertension risk.

These findings indicate a positive correlation between PCB exposure and hypertension, particularly with dioxin-like PCBs and certain PCB congeners. Additional research is necessary to clarify the mechanisms involved and to promote measures for reducing PCB exposure, particularly in high-risk populations.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024595223, PROSPERO (CRD42024595223).