Environmental Pollutant and Cardiovascular Disease

ABSTRACT

Increases in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in modern society are attributable to aging and lifestyle changes such as westernized diet and decreased physical activity. On the other hand, mounting evidence suggests that environmental pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are also related to the increases in CVD. POPs are a family of lipophilic stable chemicals that accumulate in adipose tissue and create a persistent toxic effect. The association between POPs and CVD is reported through epidemiologic, animal and in vitro studies. The association between BPA and CVD has also been established from many epidemiologic studies; however, a causal relationship remains uncertain. Exposure to POPs or BPA is also associated with the development of well-known CV risk factors such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and obesity. Therefore, it is uncertain whether POPs and BPA are involved directly to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis or indirectly associated with CVD. Additional longitudinal and experimental studies searching for the direct causal relationship and exact linking mechanisms should be conducted to investigate the effect of exposure to environmental pollutants such as POPs and BPA.