Manmade pollutants and climate change contribute to millions of deaths from cardiovascular disease each year, warn a coalition of leading scientists.
A new series published today (June 3) in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology highlights how pollution, in all its forms, is a greater health threat than that of war, terrorism, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, drugs, and alcohol combined.
The researchers focus on global warming, air pollution, and exposure to wildfire smoke. They also highlight the lesser-known drivers of heart disease including soil, noise and light pollution, and exposure to toxic chemicals. The team includes researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Global Observatory on Planetary Health Boston College, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, University Medical Centre Mainz, and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
Urgent Need for Better Monitoring
They say there is an urgent need to improve the monitoring of these pollutants to identify communities most at risk, and better understand how exposure to specific pollutants raises the risk of cardiovascular disease at the individual level.
Professor Jason Kovacic, Director and CEO of the Australian-based Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, says there needs to be far greater recognition of the dangers of pollution and the role it plays in causing around nine million deaths each year globally.
Professor Kovacic says: “Every year around 20 million people worldwide die from cardiovascular disease with pollutants playing an ever-increasing role.
“Pollutants have reached every corner of the globe and are affecting every one of us. We are witnessing unprecedented wildfires, soaring temperatures, unacceptable road noise and light pollution in our cities, and exposure to untested toxic chemicals in our homes.
Various Pollution Impacts on Health
“Our bodies are being bombarded with pollutants from every angle and they are taking a toll on our heart health. The evidence suggests that the number of people dying prematurely because of these very different forms of pollution is far higher than currently recognized.”
Pollutants are known drivers of cardiovascular disease, but they affect the body in different ways. Smoke and other toxins can be directly inhaled deep into the lower respiratory tract and reach the blood and then be transported to other organs and throughout our bodies. They can cause oxidative stress which can damage cells and organs including the heart.
Other pollutants like noise and light pollution can affect sleep patterns, drive inflammation and lead to an increase in blood pressure and weight gain. Extreme heat can also lead to dehydration, decreased blood volume, increased cardiovascular strain, and acute kidney failure.
Gaps in Understanding and Future Directions
Professor Kovacic adds: “Whilst many of these biological mechanisms are known, we still have a huge gap in our understanding of the link between pollutants and heart disease.
“There are hundreds of thousands of chemicals that haven’t even been tested for their safety or toxicity, let alone their impact on our health. We also need to discover if there are other risk factors that make people more susceptible – such as pre-existing conditions, lifestyle factors or where they live.”
Professor Kovacic and the other authors say that in the future, people will be routinely tested for exposure to more pollutants – just like children are currently tested for lead exposure in the USA.
The authors note that while the environmental crisis is imminent, and impact on health ever more pressing, the impetus for change appears sporadic. “Urgent action is required as climate change strides forward and pollution infiltrates the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the places we live in,” they write.
The team of researchers make a series of recommendations including:
- Calling for the implementation of heart-healthy changes to city design such as increasing tree cover, safe means of active travel and reduced use of vehicles.
- Ending subsidies to the fossil fuel industry to enable more investment in renewables and cleaner energy production.
- Public health campaigns about the dangers of air pollution.
- Medical education to better reflect the growing dangers of pollutants.
Key statistics:
- Outdoor and indoor air pollution combined, are associated with over seven million premature deaths per year, of which over 50% are ttributable to cardiovascular causes, principally ischemic heart disease and stroke.
- A fifth of all cardiovascular deaths are caused by air pollution.
- During heat waves, the risk of heat-related cardiovascular mortality may increase by more than 10%.
- In the USA there has been a 77% increase in exposure to wildfire smoke since 2002.
- Globally, wildfire smoke has been estimated to be responsible for 339,000 to 675,000 premature deaths per year.
- Over 300,000 new synthetic chemicals have been manufactured since 1950, and the human safety profile of many of these chemicals is unknown.
- In Europe it is estimated 113 million people are affected by long-term day-evening-night traffic noise levels of at least 55 dB(A).
References:
“Environmentally Not So Friendly: Global Warming, Air Pollution, and Wildfires: JACC Focus Seminar, Part 1” by Mark R. Miller, Philip J. Landrigan, Manish Arora, David E. Newby, Thomas Münzel, and Jason C. Kovacic, 3 June 2024, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.03.424
“Water, Soil, Noise, and Light Pollution: JACC Focus Seminar, Part 2” by Mark R. Miller, Philip J. Landrigan, Manish Arora, David E. Newby, Thomas Münzel, and Jason C. Kovacic, 3 June 2024, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.03.421
News
New MRI Study Uncovers Hidden Lung Abnormalities in Children With Long COVID
Long COVID is more than just lingering symptoms—it may have a hidden biological basis that standard medical tests fail to detect. A groundbreaking study using advanced MRI technology has uncovered significant lung abnormalities in [...]
AI Struggles with Abstract Thought: Study Reveals GPT-4’s Limits
While GPT-4 performs well in structured reasoning tasks, a new study shows that its ability to adapt to variations is weak—suggesting AI still lacks true abstract understanding and flexibility in decision-making. Artificial Intelligence (AI), [...]
Turning Off Nerve Signals: Scientists Develop Promising New Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
Pancreatic cancer reprograms nerve cells to fuel its growth, but blocking these connections can shrink tumors and boost treatment effectiveness. Pancreatic cancer is closely linked to the nervous system, according to researchers from the [...]
New human antibody shows promise for Ebola virus treatment
New research led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) reveals the workings of a human antibody called mAb 3A6, which may prove to be an important component for Ebola virus therapeutics. [...]
Early Alzheimer’s Detection Test – Years Before Symptoms Appear
A new biomarker test can detect early-stage tau protein clumping up to a decade before it appears on brain scans, improving early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Unlike amyloid-beta, tau neurofibrillary tangles are directly linked to cognitive decline. Years [...]
New mpox variant can spread rapidly across borders
International researchers, including from DTU National Food Institute, warn that the ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has the potential to spread across borders more rapidly. The mpox virus [...]
How far would you trust AI to make important decisions?
From tailored Netflix recommendations to personalized Facebook feeds, artificial intelligence (AI) adeptly serves content that matches our preferences and past behaviors. But while a restaurant tip or two is handy, how comfortable would you [...]
Can AI Really Think? Research Reveals Gaps in Logical Execution
While AI models can break down problems into structured steps, new research reveals they still fail at basic arithmetic and fact-checking—raising questions about their true reasoning abilities. Large Language Models (LLMs) have become indispensable [...]
Scientists Just Made Cancer Radiation Therapy Smarter, Safer, and More Precise
Scientists at UC San Francisco have developed a revolutionary cancer treatment that precisely targets tumors with radiation while sparing healthy tissues. By using a KRAS-targeting drug to mark cancer cells and attaching a radioactive [...]
Superbugs Are Losing to Science, Light, and a Little Spice
Texas A&M researchers have found that curcumin, when activated by light, can weaken antibiotic-resistant bacteria, restoring the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Curcumin: A Surprising Ally Against Superbugs In 2017, a woman admitted to a [...]
New Research Shatters the Perfect Pitch Myth
For decades, people believed absolute pitch was an exclusive ability granted only to those with the right genetics or early music training. But new research from the University of Surrey proves otherwise. It’s been [...]
Why Some Drinkers Suffer Devastating Liver Damage While Others Don’t
A study from Keck Medicine of USC found that heavy drinkers with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a large waistline are up to 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease. These conditions may amplify [...]
“Good” Cholesterol Could Be Bad for Your Eyes – New Study Raises Concerns
‘Good’ cholesterol may be linked to an increased risk of glaucoma in individuals over 55, while, paradoxically, ‘bad’ cholesterol may be associated with a lower risk. These findings challenge conventional beliefs about factors that [...]
Reawakening Dormant Nerve Cells: Groundbreaking Neurotechnology Restores Motor Function
A new electrical stimulation therapy for spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) has shown promise in reactivating motor neurons and improving movement. In a pilot clinical trial, three patients who received spinal cord stimulation for one [...]
AI’s Energy Crisis Solved? A Revolutionary Magnetic Chip Could Change Everything
AI is evolving at an incredible pace, but its growing energy demands pose a major challenge. Enter spintronic devices—new technology that mimics the brain’s efficiency by integrating memory and processing. Scientists in Japan have [...]
Nanotechnology for oil spill response and cleanup in coastal regions
(Nanowerk News) Cleaning up after a major oil spill is a long, expensive process, and the damage to a coastal region’s ecosystem can be significant. This is especially true for the world’s Arctic region, [...]
