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Metals Secretly Destroying Heart Health

Recent research indicates that metals like cadmium, uranium, and cobalt, commonly found in the environment, may accumulate in the body and worsen heart disease. Katlyn McGraw, the lead author and a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University, emphasized the significance of metal exposure as a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, suggesting it could inform new prevention and treatment strategies.

The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, discovered a correlation between elevated metal levels in urine and signs of stiffer, calcified arteries, which are critical indicators of heart disease. McGraw’s team specifically examined atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the hardening of blood vessels due to fatty plaque accumulation, which can also lead to unhealthy calcium buildup in arteries.

To investigate the link between environmental metal exposure and cardiovascular health, researchers analyzed data from over 6,400 middle-aged and older American adults who were free of heart disease when they joined the study from 2000 to 2002. They measured the urinary concentrations of six metals—cadmium, cobalt, copper, tungsten, uranium, and zinc—known to be associated with heart disease. Sources of exposure included tobacco smoke for cadmium and agricultural or industrial activities for the others.

Participants were categorized based on their urine metal concentrations. Those with the highest levels of cadmium exhibited 75% more artery calcification over a decade compared to those with the lowest levels. For tungsten, uranium, and cobalt, the increases were 45%, 39%, and 47%, respectively. High urinary levels of copper and zinc were also associated with increased calcification, at 33% and 57%, respectively.

Geographic variations in metal levels were noted, with residents in Los Angeles showing particularly high concentrations of tungsten and uranium, along with elevated levels of cadmium, cobalt, and copper. McGraw underscored the need for policy changes, stating that pollution poses a significant environmental threat to cardiovascular health and that the findings highlight the necessity for increased awareness and regulatory action to reduce exposure to these harmful metals.