Association of environmental metallic and metalloid contaminants with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Authors' conclusion
Despite variations in evidence gradients, environmental metallic and metalloid contaminants like arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, and copper are linked to CVD events and mortality, whereas zinc and selenium may offer protection.
Study context
- Population
- Studies of exposure to ambient metallic and metalloid pollutants and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality25 meta-analyses
- Comparison
- Exposure to environmental metallic and metalloid pollutants
- Outcome
- CVD and all-cause mortality
Methodological detailsAMSTAR2 and GRADE quality assessment, Searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to 9 October 2024
- AMSTAR2 and GRADE quality assessment
- Searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to 9 October 2024
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- Arsenic, lead, cadmium and copper exposure associated with elevated risk of CVD events and CVD mortality (moderate-quality evidence)
- Arsenic, lead and cadmium increase risk of CHD (low-quality evidence)
- Lead, cadmium and copper strongly associated with increased risk of stroke and all-cause mortality (low-quality evidence)
- Zinc and selenium may be protective for CVD and all-cause mortality
- 81 health outcomes: 76 from observational studies, 5 from RCTs
Original publication
Association of environmental metallic and metalloid contaminants with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 3 March 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it