Environmental factors play a crucial role in modulating vascular inflammation, contributing significantly to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This review synthesizes current evidence on how various environmental exposures influence vascular function and inflammation, with a focus on pollutants such as particulate matter and chemical toxins like bisphenols and per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These environmental stressors can trigger oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and vascular dysfunction, potentially accelerating the progression of atherosclerosis. We also explore the protective effects of natural compounds and exposure to green spaces in dampening inflammation and reducing cardiovascular risk. By examining the complex interplay between traditional risk factors and environmental exposures, this work highlights the need for comprehensive public health strategies that address both individual lifestyle factors and broader environmental determinants of cardiovascular health. We underscore the importance of further research to elucidate the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms by which environmental factors influence vascular function, with the aim of developing targeted interventions to mitigate their harmful effects and promote cardiovascular well‐being.

Atherosclerosis is a progressive cardiovascular disease characterized by lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation within the arterial walls. Environmental pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), and heavy metals, contribute directly to the initiation and progression of arterial plaques by promoting LDL oxidation, endothelial dysfunction, foam cell formation, and vascular inflammation, whilst high-density lipoprotein (HDL) provides protective effects. This review examines the mechanistic links between environmental exposures, lipid dysregulation, and plaque formation, highlighting how both gaseous and particulate pollutants and toxic and essential metals, as well as endocrine disrupting chemicals, influence atherosclerotic risk. Potential antioxidant and lifestyle interventions to mitigate these pollutant-driven effects are also discussed.