Pollution and the Heart

   This comprehensive review explores the relationship between pollution and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing pollution as a major but often neglected risk factor. It details how air pollution—including fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), toxic metals, and industrial chemicals—contributes to hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiac events. The authors summarize epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence linking pollution to cardiovascular pathology and highlight geographic and socioeconomic disparities. They argue that effective prevention requires both individual-level interventions and systemic policy reforms, including a global transition away from fossil fuels. The review calls for integration of pollution reduction into cardiovascular disease prevention strategies for lasting health gains and climate co-benefits.

   This comprehensive review explores the relationship between pollution and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing pollution as a major but often neglected risk factor. It details how air pollution—including fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), toxic metals, and industrial chemicals—contributes to hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiac events. The authors summarize epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence linking pollution to cardiovascular pathology and highlight geographic and socioeconomic disparities. They argue that effective prevention requires both individual-level interventions and systemic policy reforms, including a global transition away from fossil fuels. The review calls for integration of pollution reduction into cardiovascular disease prevention strategies for lasting health gains and climate co-benefits.