Exposure to Air Pollution Linked to Increased Disease Risk via Epigenetic Modifications

Strategic Insights -

Research from the University of Oslo has shown that exposure to air pollution and an unhealthy built environment increases disease risk by impacting metabolic risk factors and inflammation. The study, funded by the Erasmus Medical Center, Erasmus University, and the European Union's Horizon 2020, found associations between fine particulate matter, black carbon, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and gene expression profiles in adults. The researchers used data from the Rotterdam Study and NoMa trial to analyze transcriptomic profiles and enriched pathways associated with each environmental exposure.

Key Takeaways:

  • Exposure to air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM), was strongly associated with various gene expression profiles, including those related to inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA metabolism, and neural signaling.
  • The study found that PM had the strongest gene expression associations, while only a few significant associations were observed for other environmental exposures such as black carbon and ozone.
  • The researchers analyzed transcriptomic profiles and enriched pathways associated with each environmental exposure using land-use regression (LUR) models and satellite data.
  • The study was limited by different methods for RNA quantification, a cross-sectional design, and a small sample size.
  • The findings suggest that exposure to PM is associated with increased risk of disease via epigenetic modifications and effects on gene expression.
  • The study included data from 758 participants in the Rotterdam Study and 100 participants in the NoMa trial.

Statistics:

  • 758 participants were included in the Rotterdam Study.
  • 100 participants were included in the NoMa trial.
  • 11% of participants in the Rotterdam Study had significant associations with gene expression related to inflammation.
  • 8% of participants in the NoMa trial had significant associations with gene expression related to oxidative stress.
  • The study found that exposure to PM was associated with the maximum number of associations with gene expression.

Sources:

NewsRx. University of Oslo Reports Findings in Environmental Epigenetics (Exposure to fine particulate matter in adults is associated with immune cell gene expression related to inflammation, the electron transport chain, and cell cycle regulation). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. June 27, 2025; p 1163.