Toxic Metals Tied To Increased Heart Disease Risk
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published September 06, 2018 | 02:54 PM
People with heavy exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium or copper may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, a review of existing studies suggests.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Sep, 2018 ) :People with heavy exposure to arsenic, lead, cadmium or copper may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, a review of existing studies suggests.
While these elements occur naturally in the earth's crust, certain metals can also appear at unsafe levels in drinking water, food, and air as a result of agricultural and industrial practices, mining, and smoking, the research team notes in The BMJ.
Copper and lead, for example, can seep into drinking water from corroded pipes, while arsenic and cadmium can accumulate in groundwater due to runoff from factories and crop irrigation systems and are also found in cigarette smoke.
For the analysis, researchers examined data from 37 earlier studies with a total of almost 350,000 participants. Overall, about 13,000 people had heart attacks, bypass surgery or other events related to heart disease and about 4,200 had a stroke.
Compared to people with the lowest levels of arsenic exposure, those with the highest exposure were 30 per cent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
The highest levels of lead exposure were tied to a 43 per cent higher risk, top levels of cadmium were linked to 33 per cent higher risk and the greatest level of copper exposure was associated with 81 per cent higher risk.
"These findings reinforce the fact that environmental exposures are equally important (beyond conventional behavioural risk factors such as physical activity or diet) for cardiovascular risk, and should not be ignored," said lead author Dr Rajiv Chowdhury of the University of Cambridge in the UK.
According to private channel report,researchers also looked at mercury but did not find a connection to cardiovascular disease. This does not mean mercury is harmless, Chowdhury said by email.
"Mercury can also be a marker of fish consumption, it is possible that the association between mercury and cardiovascular disease in these studies which we included may have been somewhat confounded by comparative benefits of fish intake," Chowdhury added.
Accumulation of toxic metals in the body can lead to metal poisoning and what's known as oxidative stress, said study co-author Sara Shahzad, also of the University of Cambridge.
As the body uses oxygen, it produces by-products called free radicals that can damage cells and tissues.
The damage by oxygen free radicals is known as oxidative stress.
"Oxidative stress is essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants," Shahzad said by email.
"This can consequently affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems, kidneys, eyes and brain." Previous research has linked the metals in the study to an increased risk of cancer, especially at higher exposures over longer periods of time. But by pooling results from several smaller studies, the current analysis offers fresh evidence of their potential to also contribute to heart disease, the authors conclude.
The studies in the analysis were not controlled experiments designed to prove whether or how exposure to metals in the environment might directly cause heart attacks or strokes.
It is also possible that factors like poverty, food and housing quality could impact both the risk of metal exposure and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
There are not much most people can do to avoid environmental exposure to toxic metals, Chowdhury said. Limiting exposure requires government action to restrict activities that cause pollution and to encourage remediation when metals are released into the environment as a result of agricultural or industrial practices.
"To minimize the exposure to these toxic metals, the government should enforce legislation to control the industrial effluents and sewage discharge leading to hazardous contamination," Chowdhury said.
"In addition, people should be given awareness about common sources of toxic metals in their food, drink and environment to minimize the exposure."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Dubai Mum Becomes the First Ever Pakistani Woman to Climb 11 of the 14 Highest M ..
Over 37% Tobacco tax increase suggested to save lives, boost revenue
Mohsin Naqvi has offered a substantial incentive, pledging $100,000 to every pla ..
Citizens join Al Barsha Police in “An Hour for Dubai” Initiative
Art can be a powerful tool to relieve stress, Experts say at Sharjah Children’ ..
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
More Stories From Health
-
Health authorities asked for action against alleged illegal tenders at Services Hospital
2 days ago -
FDA officials urged to resolve peoples’ issues
3 days ago -
Health department confirms 2 deaths due to measles
3 days ago -
Vaccines save at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO
12 days ago -
UHS to issue MBBS degrees within three months after final result
12 days ago -
Rawalpindi woman gives birth to six babies
17 days ago
-
DC calls for intensive anti-polio drive in ICT
18 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed to underscore importance of providing comprehensive care
18 days ago -
Six in a family with heart on the 'right side'
18 days ago -
Diabetic disease increasing rapidly : Dr. Noor Elahi Memon
18 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed
19 days ago -
ATC dismisses bail petition of doctor involved in illegal kidneys transplant
26 days ago