Background/aim Thus far, several studies examined the short-term effects caused by exposure to air pollution, on the development of high blood pressure and hypertension, whereas these studies presented contradicting conclusions, the following study aims to confirm some of the conclusions reached before, by using a continuous peripheral BP measuring machine.

Methods The study sample included 50 Individuals at the ages of 18–55, free of cardiovascular disease, with normal blood pressure values at the beginning of the experiment. A blood pressure test was conducted while performing the following successive activities: 60 s of resting, 15 s of hand exercise using power grip, 30 s of resting.

Data from Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection monitors, placed in Haifa, were used in order to estimate ambient of fine particles (PM2.5), aerodynamic diameter ≤10 µm (PM10), nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and general nitrogen oxides (NOx) exposures at the test day.

Results No correlations were found between the simple blood pressure test conducted and the concentrations of air pollutants measured in the study area, or when trying to match the rate of increase in blood pressure during the hand exercise, to any specific air pollutant.

However, the results did show good correlations between the concentrations of air pollutants measured and the variance of the systolic, diastolic and the difference between this two. It seems that as higher the pollutants concentration, as the difference between the maximum and the minimum of the BP values is smaller.

Conclusion The results have shown interesting connexion between the variety in BP rate at the tested population and the pollutants concentration in the tested area. Nevertheless, it may be needed to use a larger sample size and to improve the measurement of the health outcome. Specifically, it may be beneficial for each patient to carry a body monitor while performing the test.