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Elevated Hydrocarbon Exposure Escalates Coronary and Cerebrovascular Disease Risks: A Comprehensive Systematic Review
Huma Sulthana1, Manasa Kasoj2, Shubham Kumar3,4
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, India.
Vascular Health and Risk Management
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Hydrocarbon exposure, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Metabolite biomarkers for PAHs and BTEX components show consistent associations with coronary heart disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Hydrocarbon exposure, encompassing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is a growing public health issue.
- These compounds are implicated in systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction, key drivers of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the association between hydrocarbon exposure and CVD risk, utilizing specific metabolite biomarkers.
- To synthesize evidence from observational studies on hydrocarbon exposure and cardiovascular outcomes like coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI).
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to June 10, 2025.
- Eleven observational studies evaluating hydrocarbon exposure biomarkers and CVD outcomes were selected for narrative synthesis.
- Studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias, with included studies generally being of moderate to high quality.
Main Results:
- Specific PAH metabolites, including 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 3-hydroxyfluorene, and 1-hydroxypyrene, were consistently linked to elevated risks of CHD, stroke, and MI.
- Exposure to BTEX components (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) was significantly correlated with increased CVD incidence in one study.
- Associations were more pronounced in highly exposed groups, such as occupational cohorts, though variations existed due to study design and confounding factors like smoking.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence suggests a significant association between hydrocarbon exposure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Further prospective longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm these findings and elucidate the precise toxicological mechanisms involved.
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