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An invisible threat to cardiovascular health

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An invisible threat to cardiovascular health

by Veronika Wagner, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

The entry routes and cardiotoxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics. Credit: Nature Reviews Cardiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41569-024-01068-0

Pesticides, heavy metals, micro- and nanoplastics in soil and environmentally harmful chemicals can have a detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system, according to a review article published in today Nature Reviews Cardiology.

The article provides an overview of the effects of soil and water pollution on human health and pathology and discusses the prevalence of soil and water pollutants and how they negatively affect health, especially the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The most important points from this publication are:

  • Diseases related to chemical pollution of soil, water and air are responsible for an estimated 9 million premature deaths annually, accounting for 16% of all deaths worldwide; half of these deaths are of cardiovascular origin.
  • Soil degradation threatens the health of at least 3.2 billion people (40% of the world’s population), while more than two billion people (25% of the world’s population) live in countries particularly affected by water pollution.
  • Eco-disruptive causes of soil and water pollution include deforestation, climate change, airborne dust, over-fertilization and unhealthy urban designs.
  • Pollution from heavy metals, pesticides, and micro- and nanoplastics cause cardiovascular damage by causing oxidative stress, inflammation, and disrupting the circadian rhythm.
  • Exposure to chemicals (such as heavy metals, solvents, dioxins and pesticides) in the workplace, through consumer products or indirectly through environmental pollution contributes to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.

“Soil pollution is a much less visible danger to human health than dirty air,” say the two lead authors of the study, Prof. Dr. Thomas Münzel, senior professor, and Prof. Dr. Andreas Daiber, head of Molecular Cardiology Research. Group at the Department of Cardiology of University Medical Mainz.

“But evidence is accumulating that pollutants in soil and water can harm cardiovascular health through a number of central mechanisms identified as playing a key role in the atherosclerotic process, such as inflammation of the vascular system, increased oxidative stress, but also the disruption of the body’s natural clock, causing vascular (endothelial) dysfunction that can lead to the onset or progression of atherosclerotic diseases.

“An important reason for writing this review article was therefore to strongly encourage cardiologists to consider environmental factors that could influence the risk of their patients,” adds Thomas Münzel.

The potential dangers of polluted dust in the air are also becoming increasingly important, for example commonly known as Sahara or desert dust. About 770,000 cardiovascular disease deaths per year can be attributed to dust pollution.

“Unfortunately, climate models predict that this dust in the air will increase significantly and that air quality will deteriorate as the planet warms,” ​​says Prof. Dr. Jos Lelieveld of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry.

According to the authors, controlling soil and water pollution is crucial for reducing cardiovascular risk. Key strategies include reducing exposure to harmful chemicals through improved water filtration, air quality management and adherence to good agricultural practices.

Efforts such as the European Commission’s 2050 Zero Pollution Vision aim to significantly reduce pollution levels, contribute to healthier ecosystems and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.

Promoting sustainable urban design, reducing the use of harmful pesticides and improving environmental regulations worldwide are also essential to tackling the causes of soil and water pollution. These measures protect not only ecosystems but also public health, especially by reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases caused by pollution.

More information:
Thomas Münzel et al, Soil and water pollution and cardiovascular disease, Nature Reviews Cardiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41569-024-01068-0

Offered by Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Quote: Soil and Water Pollution: An Invisible Threat to Cardiovascular Health (2024, September 25) Retrieved September 29, 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-soil-pollution-invisible-threat-cardiovascular.html

This document is copyrighted. Except for fair dealing purposes for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without written permission. The content is provided for informational purposes only.

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