Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health Crisis

Air pollution is a critical global health issue that significantly impacts cardiovascular health. The air pollutant PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) has been positioned as a leading environmental risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially from cardiovasc...

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Main Authors: Mark R. Miller, Mariachiara Di Cesare, Shadi Rahimzadeh, Marvellous Adeoye, Pablo Perel, Sean Taylor, Shreya Shrikhande, Kelcey Armstrong-Walenczak, Anoop S. V. Shah, César Damián Berenstein, Rajesh Vedanthan, Elvis Ndikum Achiri, Sumi Mehta, Abiodun Moshood Adeoye, Daniel Piñeiro, Fausto J. Pinto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2024-10-01
Series:Global Heart
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Online Access:https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1364
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author Mark R. Miller
Mariachiara Di Cesare
Shadi Rahimzadeh
Marvellous Adeoye
Pablo Perel
Sean Taylor
Shreya Shrikhande
Kelcey Armstrong-Walenczak
Anoop S. V. Shah
César Damián Berenstein
Rajesh Vedanthan
Elvis Ndikum Achiri
Sumi Mehta
Abiodun Moshood Adeoye
Daniel Piñeiro
Fausto J. Pinto
author_facet Mark R. Miller
Mariachiara Di Cesare
Shadi Rahimzadeh
Marvellous Adeoye
Pablo Perel
Sean Taylor
Shreya Shrikhande
Kelcey Armstrong-Walenczak
Anoop S. V. Shah
César Damián Berenstein
Rajesh Vedanthan
Elvis Ndikum Achiri
Sumi Mehta
Abiodun Moshood Adeoye
Daniel Piñeiro
Fausto J. Pinto
author_sort Mark R. Miller
collection DOAJ
description Air pollution is a critical global health issue that significantly impacts cardiovascular health. The air pollutant PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) has been positioned as a leading environmental risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Health Observatory, and the United Nations Environment Programme, we explored global trends in air pollution, with a focus on PM2.5 levels, the implications for cardiovascular health, and the policy measures aimed at reducing their impact. Despite progress in reducing pollution levels in high-income countries, global trends show a limited annual reduction in PM2.5 concentration. The analysis highlights disparities between regions, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt of air pollution-related CVDs. In 2019 alone, ambient air pollution was responsible for approximately 4.2 million deaths worldwide. Of these, 70% were caused by CVDs, with approximately 1.9 million deaths from ischemic heart disease and 900,000 deaths from stroke. Policy gaps remain a challenge, with many countries lacking adequate legally binding air quality standards. We recommend the adoption of WHO air quality guidelines, enhanced monitoring of air pollution levels, and increased investment in interdisciplinary research to understand the full scope of air pollution’s effects on cardiovascular health. Addressing the global cardiovascular crisis linked to air pollution will require coordinated efforts from policymakers, healthcare systems, and global health organisations.
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spelling doaj-art-2027da463df8442894d6c75f9f270e882024-11-18T07:37:18ZengUbiquity PressGlobal Heart2211-81792024-10-01191828210.5334/gh.13641345Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health CrisisMark R. Miller0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7078-597XMariachiara Di Cesare1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3934-3364Shadi Rahimzadeh2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0396-0803Marvellous Adeoye3https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7658-639XPablo Perel4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2342-301XSean Taylor5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5031-3588Shreya Shrikhande6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9647-7855Kelcey Armstrong-Walenczak7Anoop S. V. Shah8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2825-3419César Damián Berenstein9Rajesh Vedanthan10https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7138-2382Elvis Ndikum Achiri11https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8361-3424Sumi Mehta12https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6668-0916Abiodun Moshood Adeoye13https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0175-1768Daniel Piñeiro14https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0126-8194Fausto J. Pinto15https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8034-4529Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghInstitute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex, ColchesterInstitute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex, ColchesterInstitute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex, ColchesterDepartment of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; World Heart Federation, GenevaWorld Heart Federation, GenevaWorld Heart Federation, GenevaWorld Heart Federation, GenevaDepartment of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineDirector of ‘Cardioecology and Healthy Habits’ Council, Argentine Society of CardiologyDepartment of Population Health Institute for Excellence in Health Equity NYU Grossman School of Medicine New YorkInstitute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometry and Informatics, Martin Luther University, Halle SaaleVital Strategies, New YorkDepartment of Medicine, University College Hospital, IbadanDepartment of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos AiresSanta Maria University Hospital, CAML, CCUL, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, LisbonAir pollution is a critical global health issue that significantly impacts cardiovascular health. The air pollutant PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) has been positioned as a leading environmental risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Health Observatory, and the United Nations Environment Programme, we explored global trends in air pollution, with a focus on PM2.5 levels, the implications for cardiovascular health, and the policy measures aimed at reducing their impact. Despite progress in reducing pollution levels in high-income countries, global trends show a limited annual reduction in PM2.5 concentration. The analysis highlights disparities between regions, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt of air pollution-related CVDs. In 2019 alone, ambient air pollution was responsible for approximately 4.2 million deaths worldwide. Of these, 70% were caused by CVDs, with approximately 1.9 million deaths from ischemic heart disease and 900,000 deaths from stroke. Policy gaps remain a challenge, with many countries lacking adequate legally binding air quality standards. We recommend the adoption of WHO air quality guidelines, enhanced monitoring of air pollution levels, and increased investment in interdisciplinary research to understand the full scope of air pollution’s effects on cardiovascular health. Addressing the global cardiovascular crisis linked to air pollution will require coordinated efforts from policymakers, healthcare systems, and global health organisations.https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1364ambient air pollutioncardiovascular healthcvd global dataworld heart observatory
spellingShingle Mark R. Miller
Mariachiara Di Cesare
Shadi Rahimzadeh
Marvellous Adeoye
Pablo Perel
Sean Taylor
Shreya Shrikhande
Kelcey Armstrong-Walenczak
Anoop S. V. Shah
César Damián Berenstein
Rajesh Vedanthan
Elvis Ndikum Achiri
Sumi Mehta
Abiodun Moshood Adeoye
Daniel Piñeiro
Fausto J. Pinto
Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health Crisis
Global Heart
ambient air pollution
cardiovascular health
cvd global data
world heart observatory
title Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health Crisis
title_full Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health Crisis
title_fullStr Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health Crisis
title_full_unstemmed Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health Crisis
title_short Clearing the Air to Address Pollution’s Cardiovascular Health Crisis
title_sort clearing the air to address pollution s cardiovascular health crisis
topic ambient air pollution
cardiovascular health
cvd global data
world heart observatory
url https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1364
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