Association Between Environmental Exposures and Hypertension

Environmental Exposures and Hypertension Risk

Environmental uranium exposure has been associated with increased incidence of hypertension in those living in close proximity to uranium-contaminated sites 1
Research from Finland showed a significant association between urinary uranium levels and increases in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure among adults exposed to uranium-contaminated drinking water 1
An increase of 1 mg/L in uranium-contaminated drinking water was positively associated with an increase of 7.4 mmHg (systolic) and 5.0 mmHg (diastolic) blood pressure 1

The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense recommend regular blood pressure screening for veterans with potential burn pit exposure, as hypertension is often asymptomatic and can lead to significant complications including coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, and chronic kidney disease 2, 3
Management of hypertension in veterans should follow the VA/DoD clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of hypertension in the primary care setting 2, 4