Although the rates of death from cardiovascular diseases have declined gradually over the last decade, coronary atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction remain the leading causes of death in the United States.
Specific data are sparse on the role of occupational factors.
Because heart diseases are still so prevalent in the United States, identifying and preventing occupational factors that result in even a small increase in the relative risk of cardiovascular disease would involve large numbers of persons. Thus, preventing any occupational contribution to this problem would be an important public health measure. The workplace is a specific source of potential exposure for all but the first. Metals, Dusts, Trace Elements. Other metals, such as antimony, cobalt, and lead, have been implicated as possible causes of cardiovascular diseases.