WHITE PAPER ON REGULATION OF CHEMICAL EXPOSURES AND CARDIAC HEALTH: CURRENT GAPS AND FUTURE SOLUTIONS

Heart diseases are a global health challenge. Worldwide, they account for nearly 18 million deaths per year[1] and an estimated 3.9 million deaths in Europe[2]. While behaviour and preexisting health conditions are major risk factors[3], there's another silent threat: omnipresent air pollution[4] and a vast array of lesser-known culprits, chemicals, ranging from those in drugs and pesticides to metals and natural compounds[5].

Air pollution has been identified as a significant player in heart disease[6]. Pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and heavy metals have been shown to increase the likelihood of heart failure[7]. Additionally, with modern society's heavy reliance on countless chemical compounds, we are continually exposed to a spectrum of potential cardiac threats. Notably, some studies suggest that pesticides used in agriculture might escalate the risk of heart failure[8].

The complex interplay of risk factors, from our exposure to toxins and pollution to our age and behavior, means that heart disease can manifest differently in everyone[9]. And it's not just about the heart; many harmful compounds affect multiple organs through various pathways – making it challenging to trace back and identify the direct cardiac consequences of specific chemicals.