Exposure to Mercury in the Air and its Effect on Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD): A Systematic Review

Abdolkazem  Neisi; Fatemeh Koshki  Nasab; Arefeh   Sepahvand; Bita  Falahi; Masoume  Taherian; Ali  Farhadi; Parisa  Asban; Nastaran Tale  Pour; Majid  Farhadi; Abdollah  Dargahi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v53i5.15583

Abdolkazem Neisi Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Fatemeh Koshki Nasab Environmental Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Arefeh Sepahvand Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical sciences, Khorramabad, Iran,
Bita Falahi Department of Nursing, Aligoudarz School of Nursing, Lorestan University of Medical Science, Khorramabad, Iran,
Masoume Taherian Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Ali Farhadi Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Parisa Asban Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Nastaran Tale Pour Environmental Health Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Majid Farhadi Environmental Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical sciences, Khorramabad, Iran,
Abdollah Dargahi Department of Environmental Health, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkhal, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v53i5.15583

Keywords: Mercury; Cardiovascular disease; Exposure; Risk factors

Abstract

Background: We aimed to verify the exposure to mercury in the air and its effect on cardiovascular disorders.

Methods: The review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and national databases (such as SID) from 1995-2022.

Results: Mercury exposure can cause many disorders in humans, including neurodevelopmental disorders in fetuses and children, adverse cardiovascular outcomes, hypertension, and diabetes. Mercury is a human neurotoxin, and in recent years its potentially harmful effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) have raised concerns, mainly due to mercury's role in reducing oxidative stress.

Conclusion: Possible mechanisms of mercury toxicity in CVD include mercury-selenium interaction, increased lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress. In this article, we review studies that have investigated the relationship between mercury and CVD.