Toxic Metal Exposure Tied to Subclinical Atherosclerosis: New Insights
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Exposure to certain toxic metals, even at low levels, can promote atherosclerosis progression in the carotid, femoral, and coronary arteries, suggests new research that implicates arsenic, cadmium, and titanium, in particular, as potential culprits. The analysis of 1873 adults, nearly all men, in the longitudinal Aragon Workers Health Study was based on data obtained at their annual health exams as workers at an auto assembly factory in Spain. Participants, ranging in age from 40 to 55 years, were measured for exposure to nine toxic metals, the remaining six being uranium, barium, chromium, antimony, tungsten, and vanadium.
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@shatabhisha Arsenic and cadmium can be found in tobacco, food, and water, while titanium is primarily derived from dental and orthopedic implants, pacemaker encasings, cosmetic products, and some food. The scientific evidence supporting that arsenic and cadmium have adverse clinical cardiovascular effects is strong and was, thus, not surprising. The results for the femoral territory were specially exciting; in addition, we have newly identified titanium exposure as a potentially relevant atherosclerosis factor.