Assessment of the role of heavy metals in the etiology of arterial hypertension in the population

Introduction. Heavy metals (HM) can accumulate in the human body and affect its health, including causing hypertension.

The aim of the study was to establish a relationship between the content of lead, cadmium, manganese, and nickel in soil and whole blood in patients with the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) among the adult population of the Kizilyurt region of Dagestan.

Materials and methods. Soil sampling was carried out from sites with a homogeneous soil cover, from which mixed soil samples were taken. In each locality, ten soil samples were taken. Whole blood was taken from 10 patients from each 11 localities, from a total of 110 participants aged 18 to 60 years with hypertension pathology. Soil and whole blood analyses for TM content, in 3-fold repetition were performed using atomic absorption spectrometry on an MGA-915MD instrument. Linear regression models were used to study the relationship between HM and AH indicators of the population. The data obtained were processed using Python software (version 3.10.9), K. (version 4.1.2), and the Statistica 6.0 software package. Statistical significance was determined as a p value of less than 0.05.

Results. Accumulation of lead in the soils of settlements in the Kizilyurt region was found to vary from 8 mg/kg to 41 mg/kg, which is equivalent to 0.13–0.68 of maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of the mobile form of this element. The content of cadmium is 0.87, manganese is 0.89, and nickel is 0.14 MPC. Statistical analysis of the HM content in the soils of the studied area and data on the prevalence of AH indicates to a direct relationship between the weak strength for cadmium, manganese, nickel and the noticeable strength for lead on the Chaddock scale. When analyzing the whole blood in patients with hypertension, a statistically significant association of lead and cadmium levels with pathology was also found to be of medium and high strength.

Limitations. The limitations of the study are related to one-time sampling during one year.

Conclusion. This study showed a significant relationship between TM levels and the prevalence of hypertension. The level of TM in the soil can play a significant role in the etiology of hypertension, which indicates a significant impact of the geochemical environment on its development. Therefore, it is important to take into account the content of HMS in soils, since they can enter the human body through the food chain and accumulate, affecting its elemental status.

Compliance with ethical standards. Minutes No. 25 of the meeting of the Academic Council of the Dagestan State Medical University dated 02/24/2025. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Khanaliev V.Yu. – concept and design of the study, writing the article, editing the text;
Abdulagatov I.M., Mollaeva N.R. – critical revision with the introduction of valuable intellectual content of the text of the article, preparation of the article for publication;
Petrosova V.G. – analysis of the material, writing an article, generalization of the data obtained;
Yahiyaev M.A., Salikhov Sh.K. – literature review, statistical data processing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: December 30, 2024 / Revised: March 3, 2025 / Accepted: June 26, 2025 / Published: August 20, 2025

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