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Review
. 2017 Feb;35(1):71-86.
doi: 10.1016/j.ccl.2016.09.001.

Environmental Exposures and Cardiovascular Disease: A Challenge for Health and Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Melissa S Burroughs Peña  1 , Allman Rollins  2
Affiliations
Review

Environmental Exposures and Cardiovascular Disease: A Challenge for Health and Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Melissa S Burroughs Peña et al. Cardiol Clin. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Environmental exposures in low- and middle-income countries lie at the intersection of increased economic development and the rising public health burden of cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence suggests an association of exposure to ambient air pollution, household air pollution from biomass fuel, lead, arsenic, and cadmium with multiple cardiovascular disease outcomes, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality. Although populations in low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately exposed to environmental pollution, evidence linking these exposures to cardiovascular disease is derived from populations in high-income countries. More research is needed to further characterize the extent of environmental exposures.

Keywords: Air pollution; Arsenic; Cadmium; Cardiovascular disease; Environmental health; Heavy metals; Household air pollution; Lead.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of the Association Between Environmental Exposures, Pathophysiologic Mechanisms and Cardiovascular Disease. Panel A illustrates the multiple mechanisms by which selected environmental exposures cause cardiovascular injury. Panel B shows the multiple cardiovascular outcomes that are associated with environmental exposures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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