Exposing Inequality: Environmental Injustice and Cardiovascular Health Disparities

Authors

Ritu Thamman, Division of Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: thammanr2@upmc.edu.
Samar A. Nasser, Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Keith C. Ferdinand, Section of Cardiology, John W. Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Sadeer Al-Kindi, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
Eric Brandt, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-20-2025

Journal

JACC. Advances

Volume

4

Issue

7

DOI

10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101875

Keywords

air pollution; cardiovascular disease; environmental injustice; exposome; gene-environment interaction; social vulnerability

Abstract

This review explores the intersection between environmental injustice and cardiovascular (CV) health disparities, highlighting how climate change, pollution, and environmental exposures disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. It delves into environmental racism, showing how non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities face higher exposure to pollutants and climate-related hazards. This increased exposure contributes to greater CV morbidity and mortality, exacerbated by historical practices such as redlining and insufficient exposure regulations. The review points out the limitations of traditional CV risk models that overlook these environmental factors. Promoting transparency, community-driven solutions, and linking macro policies with local implementation are crucial to combating environmental injustice. It suggests that the emerging field of environmental cardiology can adopt eco-friendly sustainable practices and remote care solutions to reduce health care's carbon footprint, integrate environmental risks into prevention and treatment plans, and advocate for policies that reduce disparities in CV disease outcomes.

APA Citation

Thamman, Ritu; Nasser, Samar A.; Ferdinand, Keith C.; Al-Kindi, Sadeer; and Brandt, Eric, "Exposing Inequality: Environmental Injustice and Cardiovascular Health Disparities" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7389.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7389

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership