Role of Human Biomonitoring in Assessing Air Pollution Impact
Rising industrial and energy production, the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, as well as the surge in road traffic, play a significant role in urban air pollution, worldwide. Consequently, cities tend to be epicentres for air pollution, which has evolved into a pervasive global health concern, resulting in millions of premature deaths annually and negatively affecting quality of life. Air pollution can exacerbate asthma, as well as other respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
At present, more than 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, highlighting the scale of these health challenges (Gajski et al.). To address these concerns, the EU has set the goal to achieve air quality levels that can reduce adverse effects on human health and the environment. The primary culprits for air pollution are industrial and urban exhausts; however, environmental air pollution depends not only on the source and quantities of emission but also on several other factors, including weather conditions, seasonal variations, topography, and geographical location. As a result, each city presents a unique air quality profile.
Air pollution stands out as one of the most severe global public health issues and was officially recognised to be the leading environmental cause of cancer-related deaths. At the same time, human biomonitoring is an essential tool that allows us to assess whether and to what extent environmental substances affect the health and well-being of the human population. It provides valuable information into environmental exposure aiding the identification of potential health hazards. A key strength of human biomonitoring is its capacity to provide accurate information on the overall exposure of an individual at a given point in time, amalgamating exposure from multiple sources and routes. Nevertheless, evaluating the health risks posed by these exposures, in which combinations and at what levels, remain a challenge to estimate.
Cytogenetic and molecular-biological methods play a crucial role in biomonitoring by evaluating the extent of chromosomal damage in human populations that have been exposed to different genotoxic agents. At IMROH we boast extensive experience in adopting such methods in the framework of human biomonitoring. Assessment of genotoxic effects is carried out mainly deploying human peripheral blood and/or buccal cells and by applying various genetic markers which allow for an early detection of biological effects. In parallel, at IMROH we are coordinating and organising air pollution monitoring.
The global trend of rising air pollution, especially in urban city areas, underscores the imperative for conducting prospective studies on the effect of air pollution on genome integrity and human health. Data gathered through the EDIAQI project will contribute to a better understanding of how indoor air pollution may influence the frequencies of cytogenetic biomarkers and can subsequently serve as a comparison for future prospective studies. We at IMROH, with our unique expertise,, are well positioned to contribute to a better understanding of how indoor air pollutants affect early molecular biomarkers and consequently, human health.
Note: This article has been published on behalf of Goran Gajski, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH), Zagreb Croatia.
References:
UN Human Settlements Programme, World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities, Nairobi, 2022. Accessible at:
https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2022/06/wcr_2022.pdf
Gajski et al. Associating Air Pollution with Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus Assay Parameters in Lymphocytes of the General Population in Zagreb (Croatia). Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(17): 10083. doi: 10.3390/ijms231710083. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/17/10083
Milic et al. Effect of Air Pollution on the Basal DNA Damage of Mother–Newborn Couples of Mexico City. Toxics. 2023; 11(9): 766. doi.org/10.3390/toxics11090766. https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/9/766