Environmentally Not So Friendly: Global Warming, Air Pollution, and Wildfires

Environmental stresses are increasingly being recognized as significant risk factors for adverse health outcomes. In particular, various forms of pollution and climate change are playing an increasing role in promoting non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease. Given recent trends, global warming and air pollution are now associated with substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. As a vicious cycle, global warming increases the occurrence, size and severity of wildfires, which are significant sources of airborne particulate matter. Exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with cardiovascular disease, with these effects being underpinned by mechanisms that include oxidative stress, inflammation, impaired cardiac function and pro-atherosclerotic effects in the circulation. In the first part of our two-part series on pollution and cardiovascular disease, we provide an overview of the impact of global warming and air pollution, and because of recent events and emerging trends we pay specific attention to air pollution caused by wildfires.