How Do Chemical Pollutants Harm The Body?
- erudite .
- Apr 28, 2022
- 2 min read
By Ella Kang
Our bodies have changed over time to adjust to constant exposure to a mixture of pollutants; gene expression is transformed, immune systems are shaped and trained, psychological responses are triggered, and wellbeing as well as diseases are defined.
A study of existing evidence suggests that chemical pollutants can harm our bodies in 8 different ways. Led by a team of researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, this research specifically focused on analyzing how exposure to pollutants in air, soil, water, and food is harmful to our health. Andrea Baccarelli, the senior author and chair of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia Mailman school indicated: “Less understood, however, are the specific biological pathways through which these chemicals inflict damage on our bodies. In this paper, we provide a framework to understand why complex mixtures of environmental exposures bring about serious illness even at relatively modest concentrations”.
The paper summarizes evidence for 8 environmental harms:
1) Oxidative stress and inflammation
When antioxidant concentration is depleted, reaction oxygen species are left unchecked and can result in cancer and organ damage.
2) Genomic alterations and mutations
Harmful mutations in DNA can contribute to development of diseases.
3) Epigenetic alterations
Epigenetic changes alter the synthesis of proteins responsible for childhood development and regular function of the body.
4) Mitochondrial dysfunction
A malfunction in the mitochondria (the power of a cell) induces abnormal fetal brain development, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and premature aging.
5) Endocrine disruption
Chemicals found in the food have impacts on the regulation of hormones and health in general.
6) Altered intercellular communication
Communications with receptors and other means are interrupted, meaning that a response to stimuli is not coordinated.
7) Altered microbiome communities
If the balance between bacteria and other microorganisms in the body is disrupted, allergies, asthma, and viral infections can result.
8) Impaired nervous system function
Microscopic particles can activate the nervous system and release stress hormones in consequence.
On the other hand, the researchers also emphasized that exposure to nature has been studied to be helpful for people’s mental health. Further research is therefore required to fully discover how the exposure affects human biology by interacting and contributing to disease or health benefits. Baccarelli also noted: “We need research to expand our knowledge of disease mechanisms going beyond genetics. Advances in biomedical technologies and data science will allow us to delineate the complex interplay of environmental insults down to the single-cell level...This knowledge will help us develop ways to prevent and treat illness. With the serious environmental challenges like air pollution and climate change, most of all, we need strong local, national, and inter-governmental policies to ensure healthy environments”.
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