EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTH AND EPIGENETICS
Keywords:
Pollution, Methylation, Epigenetic, Immunity, Neonatal Disorders, Particulate MatterAbstract
Air pollution is a significant threat to human genetics and health, as well as the environment. Components of air pollution, such as particulate matter (PM), black carbon (BC), ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), have been linked to various health outcomes. Studies conducted on two different age groups, infants and the elderly, show that air pollution leads to decreased DNA methylation and other epigenetic marks, resulting in a weakened immune system and an increased incidence of autoimmune and respiratory diseases. During the first trimester of pregnancy, the effects of air pollution on DNA methylation are heightened, leading to fatal diseases, neonatal disorders, miscarriages, and infant mortality. This vulnerability to changes in DNA methylation and histone acetylation underscores the critical impact of air pollution on human health from the earliest stages of development.
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