Environmental pollution and cardiovascular health. Challenges and new perspectives.

Abstract

Environmental pollution is a key factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Several evidences support its impact at the pathophysiology of arteriosclerosis, highlighting the role of the "exposome", a concept that encompasses all environmental factors such as air pollution, water pollution, climate change and noise and light pollution. These factors are associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, high blood pressure (HBP), heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, air pollution is the main environmental factor related to CVD. Components such as particulates matter (PM_0.1, PM_2.5, PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxide and dioxide (NO_x), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O₃) have a high capacity to penetrate the body and trigger both local and systemic inflammatory processes. These effects promote a proinflammatory, procoagulant state and an increase in oxidative stress. Similarly, aquatic pollution exposes the body to pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides and microplastics, both through direct contact and via the food chain, thus contributing to the phenomena mentioned above. On the other hand, factors such as noise and light pollution, together with effects caused from climate change (extreme temperatures, wildfires, desertification, among others), have been closely linked to pathophysiological processes that favour the development and progression of atherosclerosis. These mechanisms include sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation, stress hormones release such as cortisol and catecholamines, as well as chronodisruption. This review analyses the role of factors related to the exposome (air pollution, water pollution, noise and light pollution and phenomena associated with climate change) in atherosclerosis progression, as well as their involvement in the incidence, prevalence and prognosis of CVD. Physicians should promote awareness of environmental pollution impact on cardiovascular health, integrating the assessment of environmental factors into their clinical practice, advocating for sustainable policies to prevent diseases and protect present and future health.