Oxidative stress and the cardiovascular effects of air pollution

• Published in: Free radical biology & medicine Vol. 151; pp. 69 - 87
• Main Author: Miller, Mark R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2020; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - toxicity; Air pollution; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular Diseases - chemically induced; Cardiovascular System; Diesel exhaust; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Oxidative stress; Air pollution; Cardiovascular; Particulate matter; Diesel exhaust
• ISSN: 0891-5849; 1873-4596; 1873-4596
• DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.01.004

Cardiovascular causes have been estimated to be responsible for more than two thirds of the considerable mortality attributed to air pollution. There is now a substantial body of research demonstrating that exposure to air pollution has many detrimental effects throughout the cardiovascular system. Multiple biological mechanisms are responsible, however, oxidative stress is a prominent observation at many levels of the cardiovascular impairment induced by pollutant exposure. This review provides an overview of the evidence that oxidative stress is a key pathway for the different cardiovascular actions of air pollution. [Display omitted] •This review provides a detailed summary of the evidence for a role of oxidative stress in the cardiovascular effects of air pollution.•Evidence from epidemiological studies, controlled exposures in human subjects, in vivo animal models and in vitro assays is assessed.•Evidence is discussed in regards to different facets of cardiovascular (patho)physiology e.g. vascular tone, arrhythmia, thrombosis, stroke.•Emphasis is given to the action of particulates in air pollution, especially combustion-derived particles from vehicle exhaust.•The evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a contributing role in the cardiovascular dysfunction caused by exposure to air pollution.