Air pollution and atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• Air pollution is a major global health concern, linked to significant cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.
• Atherosclerosis, a vascular disease characterized by plaque buildup, underlies many cardiovascular events like stroke and myocardial infarction.
• Air pollution exposure, both acute and chronic, can worsen various aspects of atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the epidemiological evidence linking air pollution exposure to morphological measures of atherosclerosis.
• To summarize the biological mechanisms through which air pollution promotes atherosclerosis at different disease stages.
• To offer a perspective on the evidence and recommend future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological studies correlating air pollution exposure with atherosclerosis markers (e.g., carotid intimal media thickness, coronary and aortic calcification).
• Synthesis of current knowledge on biological pathways explaining air pollution's role in atherosclerosis development.
• Critical evaluation of the existing evidence base.

Main Results:

• Epidemiological data show associations between air pollution exposure and increased atherosclerosis burden.
• Biological mechanisms involve inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction, contributing to plaque formation and rupture.
• The evidence strongly supports a causal link between air pollution and atherosclerosis progression.

Conclusions:

• Air pollution is a significant environmental risk factor for atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular events.
• Minimizing exposure to air pollutants presents a critical opportunity for public health to reduce cardiovascular pathology.
• Urgent action is needed to mitigate air pollution's impact on cardiovascular health.