Genetics and Pollution exposures point to a stronger link between pollution and human disease By Julie Peller Ph.D.

Green Junction

Data analyses on lifestyles, genetics and pollution exposures point to a stronger link between pollution and human disease. The term exposome is defined as the myriad of environmental exposures we encounter, which include our living conditions, the foods we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink. These are all linked to lifetime health.  A United Kingdom Biobank study analyzed data from a half million people and concluded that the environment is about 10 times more important than genes in explaining why some people have a higher risk of disease and early death.

The primary author of the Biobank study, Dr Austin Argentieri, explained “for a lot of diseases, it’s really the environment and exposome that’s driving a lot of our risk for these outcomes, and investments in understanding and modifying our environments are likely going to have a profound impact on improving health for all of us.” Scientific studies are more overwhelmingly pointing to pollution exposures as major factors in the rise of certain illnesses. For example, the rise in rates of Parkinson’s Disease, which has doubled the last 30 years in the United States, shows that genetics is not the primary factor. According to the latest research, only 10-15% of Parkinson’s cases can be attributed to genetics.

Our reality is that the rise in materialism/consumerism translates to increasing chemical exposures. Plastic merchandise is laced with numerous chemicals, most of which are not made known to consumers. Micro and nanoplastics are consumed daily by most people and forever chemicals (PFAS – more on these soon) are also part of many consumer products. Numerous other chemicals have entered our lives. In the case of Parkinson’s, experts have written a book, “Ending Parkinson’s Disease,” where they explain that Parkinson’s is a growing pandemic. As many as 90% of cases are likely caused by chemical exposures from our environment, in particular TCE (trichloroethylene, a common solvent in dry cleaning, metal degreasing, paints and more) and pesticides. If this theory stands, these experts claim that we can “end Parkinson’s” as we know it by eliminating these harmful chemicals.

Returning to fewer and more natural products is incredibly important going forward, especially for our younger generations.

Have a happy holiday season!

Julie Peller, Ph.D., is an environmental chemist (Professor of Chemistry at Valparaiso University). She has been writing a weekly column, The Green Junction, for the past seven years and is helping to move the call of Laudato Si to action. Her research interests include advanced oxidation for aqueous solutions, water quality analyses, emerging contaminants, air quality analyses, challenges along the Lake Michigan shoreline (such as Cladophora, water, and sediment contaminants), and student and citizen participation in environmental work.