Introduction: The World Health Organization, estimated that 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 2012 alone, accounting for 30% of global deaths and serving as the number one cause of death globally. Environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals (e.g. mercury) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (e.g. polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), may contribute to the burden of ...