Metal exposure in heart disease

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major global health concern.
• Classical risk factors are well-established, but environmental exposures, particularly toxic metals, are increasingly implicated in cardiovascular risk.
• Epidemiological studies suggest associations between toxic metals and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature on the association between specific toxic metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, chromium) and CHD.
• To emphasize epidemiological evidence, mechanistic insights, and clinical implications of toxic metal exposure on cardiovascular health.
• To explore exposure pathways, biomarkers, vascular mechanisms, and prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of PubMed-indexed literature.
• Inclusion of major human observational studies, experimental data, and translational reports.
• Focus on studies addressing exposure, biomarkers, vascular mechanisms, and prevention related to toxic metals and CHD.

Main Results:

• Strong evidence links chronic exposure to lead, cadmium, and arsenic with increased risks of hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular mortality.
• Evidence for mercury and chromium is more variable and depends on context.
• Mechanistic studies indicate metals promote oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Toxic metals are plausible, potentially underrecognized contributors to cardiovascular disease.
• Clinical consideration of heavy metal exposure is warranted for specific CHD patients.
• Prevention strategies should focus on reducing environmental and occupational exposures to toxic metals.