Long-Term Exposure to Dust and Noise Can Increase the Risk of Hypertension—A Population Based, Cross-sectional Study

The aim of the study is to assess whether occupational groups exposed to dust and noise increase their risk of developing hypertension and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of exposure factors on the occurrence of hypertension, and confounding factors were adjusted to identify independent effects. Stratified analysis and smoothed curve fitting were used to explore the effects in different populations. RESULTS: Combined dust + noise exposure significantly increased the risk of hypertension in workers (model 1: odds ratio [OR], 2.75; model 2: OR, 2.66; model 3: OR, 2.85). Further analysis showed that when exposed to dust and noise for more than 17 years, the risk of hypertension increased by 15%. CONCLUSIONS: The combined exposure of dust and noise significantly increases the risk of hypertension among occupational groups, especially among workers who have worked for more than 17 years.