Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
09:24
In Vitro Scratch Assay to Demonstrate Effects of Arsenic on Skin Cell Migration
Published on: February 23, 2019
Arsenic exposure and cardiovascular disorders: an overview
Pitchai Balakumar1, Jagdeep Kaur
1Cardiovascular Pharmacology Division, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, 142 001, India. pbala2006@gmail.com
Cardiovascular Toxicology
|September 30, 2009
Summary
Arsenic exposure from drinking water is linked to cardiovascular diseases. This review details how arsenic harms the heart by causing oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Arsenic contamination in drinking water is a global health concern, affecting numerous countries.
- Arsenic exposure is increasingly associated with a range of cardiovascular disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review the detrimental effects of arsenic exposure on the cardiovascular system.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced cardiovascular pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating arsenic exposure and cardiovascular outcomes.
- Analysis of biochemical and molecular pathways affected by arsenic.
Main Results:
- Arsenic inactivates endothelial nitric oxide synthase, reducing nitric oxide bioavailability and causing vascular endothelial dysfunction.
- Chronic arsenic exposure leads to oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, and cardiac arrhythmias.
- Arsenic upregulates pro-inflammatory markers and growth factors implicated in cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions:
- Arsenic exposure poses a significant threat to cardiovascular health through multiple pathogenic mechanisms.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing preventative strategies against arsenic-induced heart disease.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:36Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:26Toxic Reactions: Overview
When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
01:27The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Periodic Table Provides Information...
00:57The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally-occurring, and fewer still are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.The Periodic Table Provides Information about...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
01:18Cardiovascular Drugs: Classification based on Therapeutic Indications
Cardiovascular diseases, encompassing a range of conditions, can significantly affect the heart's operations and the overall circulatory system. These conditions impair the heart's ability to pump blood, leading to a deficit in oxygen supply to crucial organs. Anomalies in the heart's electrical system, known as arrhythmias, can cause heartbeats to accelerate or slow down. Usually, heart rates increase during physical activity and decrease while resting or sleeping. However, frequent irregular...