The heart and blood vessels of the body are so interdependent that the combined system is called the cardiovascular system. Agents that damage the tissue of the heart muscle itself include cobalt, antimony, arsenic, arsine, and yellow phosphorus. Diseases which cause the blood vessels to corrode and to deteriorate are called cardiovascular diseases. They cause more deaths annually than all other causes of death combined. These deposits interfere with the smooth flow of blood and the amount of blood carried through the artery.
Clots form early leading to heart attack or stroke.
When inhaled, CO combines with hemoglobin, the oxygen- carrying substance in the blood, and forms carboxyhemoglobin. By replacing oxygen, CO deprives tissues of the necessary oxygen for survival. In individuals with heart problems, low level exposure to CO has been shown to intensify the problem and may accelerate atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Few studies of worker populations exposed to CO have been conducted, but there is some evidence that stationary engineers and firemen at power plants have an increased frequency of death from heart disease. Steam boilers at these plants pose a potential exposure problem.