Cardiovascular Toxicity of Volatile Organic Compounds
摘要
. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) represent a large and diverse group of chemicals, typically liquids characterized by varying degrees of lipophilicity and volatility. VOCs are most commonly used as industrial solvents, making occupational exposure a predominant route of human contact. In addition, intentional inhalation of these substances—known as volatile substance abuse (VSA)—poses a significant health concern. VOCs also enter the environment primarily through evaporation, contributing—along with other sources such as tobacco smoke, hazardous waste sites, vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and household products—to ambient air pollution. This environmental presence has raised concerns about the exposure of the general population. Exposure to VOCs has been associated with a range of adverse health effects in both humans and experimental animals. This chapter summarizes current evidence on the cardiovascular toxicity of solvents/VOCs, emphasizing the need to investigate VOC exposure as a potential risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).