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In the journal Nature Reviews Cardiology, an international research team warns of strong links between soil and water pollution and cardiovascular disease. Pesticides, heavy metals, micro- and nanoplastics in the soil and environmentally harmful chemicals can have a negative impact on the cardiovascular system.
In this comprehensive literature review, researchers led by Professor Thomas Münzel from the University Medical Center Mainz summarise current research findings that show that chemical pollutants in the environment pose a significant risk to human health. The high number of deaths in certain regions of the world is particularly alarming.
Cardiovascular diseases caused by environmental pollution
The review article emphasises that around 9 million people worldwide die prematurely every year as a result of environmental pollution, of which around 5.5 million die from cardiovascular diseases. The figures are particularly worrying in countries with high levels of pollution. In India, for example, more than 2.3 million people die every year as a result of chemical pollutants, while in China the figure is almost 1.9 million. Other countries with high mortality rates are Nigeria (279,000 deaths per year) and Indonesia (233,000 deaths).
Pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, dioxins, microplastics and nanoplastics find their way into soil and water via industry, agriculture and municipal waste. These contaminants not only lead to health problems, but also impair food production and jeopardise drinking water supplies.
Heavy metals and microplastics as a hidden danger
One particularly threatening pollutant is lead, which accounts for almost 50 % of all health problems caused by chemical pollutants. In 2019, exposure to lead alone led to 21.7 million years of life lost through disability and death. Cadmium and mercury are also highly damaging to health. They cause oxidative damage in cells, which leads to high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and heart attacks.
Microplastics and nanoplastics, which are increasingly found in oceans, rivers and soil, enter the human body via the food chain. These particles cause cell damage, inflammation and cardiac arrhythmia and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. People in coastal regions and in countries with a high dependence on fishing are particularly affected.
The potential risk posed by contaminated airborne dust - well known as Saharan or desert dust, for example - is also becoming increasingly important. Around 770,000 cardiovascular deaths per year can be attributed to dust pollution. Global warming will further exacerbate this situation.
A global problem - developing countries are particularly hard hit
The study shows that the health effects of environmental pollution are felt worldwide, but lead to high mortality rates in developing countries in particular. Over 90% of deaths caused by environmental pollution occur in developing and newly industrialising countries. This mainly affects regions with intensive industrial activity, uncontrolled agricultural use of pesticides and improper waste disposal. These countries suffer particularly from the consequences of pollution, as they often do not have adequate pollution control measures in place.
Call for swift action
The researchers are urgently calling for global measures to reduce chemical pollution of the environment. ‘Our health is directly linked to the health of our environment,’ emphasises Prof. Münzel. ‘Tackling soil and water pollution is crucial to curbing the rising incidence of cardiovascular disease. An important aim of this review article was therefore to encourage cardiologists to consider environmental factors that may influence their patients‘ risk,’ continues Münzel. The study shows that sustainable environmental strategies are needed to tackle this global health crisis.
About the study
The review was produced by an international team of researchers, including experts from the fields of cardiology, environmental chemistry and epidemiology. The paper summarises the latest findings on the impact of pollution on public health and shows that pollution poses not only environmental but also significant health threats.
The international research team includes authors from the following institutions: Centre for Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz (Thomas Münzel, Omar Hahad and Andreas Daiber), Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz (Jos Lelieveld), Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA (Michael Aschner), Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain (Mark Nieuwenhuijsen) and Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Boston, MA, USA (Philip Landrigan).
Prof. Dr Thomas Münzel; University Medical Center Mainz; mail: tmuenzel@uni-mainz.de; phone: +49 1742189542
Soil and water pollution and cardiovascular disease. Münzel et al., Nature Reviews Cardiology 2024 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-024-01068-0
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Biologie, Ernährung / Gesundheit / Pflege, Medizin, Umwelt / Ökologie
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