Superfund Research Program
May 2023

Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure among Black adults, according to a study from the University of Louisville SRP Center. High blood pressure can contribute to heart disease, and both are more prevalent among Black adults in the U.S. than among any other race or ethnic group in the world. This is the first study to shed light on the potential underlying environmental exposures that might contribute to such health disparities.
VOCs are common urban air pollutants from vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and household products, as well as found in cigarette smoke. Nearly all major emission sources disproportionately affect people of color, and socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in pollution exposure have persisted despite an overall decrease in air pollution in the U.S.
The study included a subgroup of about 1,200 participants in the Jackson Heart Study — a cohort of Black adults aged 35-84 in the Jackson, Mississippi area. The team used urine samples to estimate exposure to 17 VOCs and then evaluated associations with blood pressure. They also compared individuals who smoke with those who have never smoked to further identify sources of VOC exposure.
Among smokers, higher blood pressure was associated with higher estimated VOC exposure, particularly for the chemical crotonaldehyde. Interestingly, they also reported a strong relationship between VOCs and higher blood pressure in non-smokers, driven primarily by acrolein and styrene.
According to the researchers, higher blood pressure in Black individuals may be attributed in part to VOC exposure from the environment, and interventions to reduce VOC exposure may improve cardiovascular health in this population.
To learn more, please refer to the following sources:- McGraw KE, Konkle S, Riggs DW, Rai SN, DeJarnett N, Xie Z, Keith RJ, Oshunbade A, Hall ME, Shimbo D, Bhatnagar A. 2023. Exposure to volatile organic compounds is associated with hypertension in Black adults: The Jackson Heart Study. Environ Res 223:115384. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115384 PMID:36796615 PMCID:PMC10134439