VOL. 3, NO. 2, 2024 | Usman Sagheer, MD; Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD; Shady Abohashem, MD; Colin T. Phillips, MD; Jamal S. Rana, MD, PhD; Aruni Bhatnagar, PhD; Martha Gulati, MD, MS; Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD; Dinesh K. Kalra, MD
This article, part 2 of a two-part review, focuses on the impact of environmental pollution on cardiovascular disease (CVD). It highlights the growing evidence linking various environmental pollutants to adverse CVD outcomes and emphasizes the need for better understanding of these relationships and strategies to reduce pollution. The article discusses major environmental pollutants such as plastics, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), metallic pollutants, and light and noise pollution, detailing their sources, mechanisms of action, and health impacts. It also outlines the pathophysiological mechanisms through which these pollutants contribute to CVD, including oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and atherothrombosis. The article calls for a multifaceted approach to mitigate pollution, involving social, economic, legislative, and engineering solutions, as well as individual lifestyle changes. It concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for international public health strategies, policy changes, and increased public awareness to reduce pollution and its harmful effects on global health.This article, part 2 of a two-part review, focuses on the impact of environmental pollution on cardiovascular disease (CVD). It highlights the growing evidence linking various environmental pollutants to adverse CVD outcomes and emphasizes the need for better understanding of these relationships and strategies to reduce pollution. The article discusses major environmental pollutants such as plastics, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), metallic pollutants, and light and noise pollution, detailing their sources, mechanisms of action, and health impacts. It also outlines the pathophysiological mechanisms through which these pollutants contribute to CVD, including oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and atherothrombosis. The article calls for a multifaceted approach to mitigate pollution, involving social, economic, legislative, and engineering solutions, as well as individual lifestyle changes. It concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for international public health strategies, policy changes, and increased public awareness to reduce pollution and its harmful effects on global health.