Fig. 1.

Potential mechanisms how exposure to PM leads to CV disease. Three main pathways could mediate PM-related cardiovascular effects: (1) induction of autonomic nervous system imbalance, (2) development of pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation with systemic “spill-over” of inflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines, activated cells), (3) translocation of particles and/or chemical constituents to the systemic circulation. CHF congestive heart failure, CV cardiovascular, CVA cerebrovascular accident, EC endothelial cells, IHD ischemic heart disease, PVD peripheral vascular disease. Pulmonary inflammation may range from activation of inflammatory molecular pathways without histological evidence of it to overt infiltration by inflammatory cells. Taken from Araujo and Book (2011)