Particulate air pollution and cardiovascular risk: short-term and long-term effects.

It is well known that exposure to particulate air pollutants is associated with the development of adverse health effects. In particular, there is growing evidence of a close relationship between increased levels of environmental pollutants and cardiovascular disease. Particle exposure may trigger acute cardiac events as well as promote the chronic development of cardiovascular disorders. Several biological mechanisms have been suggested to explain the important effect of air pollution on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, although the exact pathways are not fully understood. The literature data on the short-term and long-term cardiovascular effects of particulate air pollutants are discussed in this review from a clinical and mechanistic point of view.