Relationship between high sodium levels in municipally softened drinking water and elevated blood pressure

Brenniman, Gary R.; Hallenbeck, William H.; Anderson, Robert J.; Baukus , Alvida T.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/90181 Copy

Description

Title

Relationship between high sodium levels in municipally softened drinking water and elevated blood pressure

Author(s)

• Brenniman, Gary R.
• Hallenbeck, William H.
• Anderson, Robert J.
• Baukus , Alvida T.

Contributor(s)

University of Illinois at Chicago

Issue Date

1981-04

Keyword(s)

• Water resource development
• Water resource development--Illinois
• Public health
• Blood pressure
• Cardiovascular
• Drinking water
• Hypertension
• Municipal water
• Sodium
• Teenagers
• Water softening

Geographic Coverage

Illinois (state)

Abstract

A recent study in Massachusetts found that a group of high school sophomores exposed to 107 mg/l sodium in their drinking water had significantly higher blood pressures than a control group exposed to a lower level of sodium (8 mg/l). The present study was undertaken in Illinois to determine if these findings could be repeated with a group of high school juniors and seniors from two communities, LaGrange and Westchester, located in the Chicago metropolitan area. The concentration of sodium in LaGrange's municipal drinking water is 405 mg/l as compared to 4 mg/l for Westchester. Of the 386 eligible students in LaGrangeI.84%volunteered to have their blood pressures taken. In Westchester, 78% of the 401 eligible students volunteered. Results of the survey indicated that male and female systolic blood pressures in the high sodium community were not higher than those in the low-sodium community (p > 0.05). In contrast, the male and female diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in the high-sodium community (p < 0.05). However, the increases in diastolic blood pressures were not as large as those observed in the Massachusetts study. The long-term significance of these findings is unknown. However, they do indicate a need for further follow-up study to determine if there is an association with the development of hypertension.

Publisher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Water Resources Center

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90181

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

• U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Geological Survey

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 1981 held by the authors

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