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The Impact of Air Pollution on Our Epigenome: How Far Is the Evidence? (A Systematic Review)

  • Environmental Epigenetics (A Baccarelli and A Cardenas, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Environmental Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This systematic review evaluated existing evidence linking air pollution exposure in humans to major epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and chromatin regulation.

Recent Findings

Eighty-two manuscripts were eligible, most of which were observational (85%), conducted in adults (66%) and based on DNA methylation (79%).

Summary

Most observational studies, except panel, demonstrated modest effects of air pollution on the methylome. Panel and experimental studies revealed a relatively large number of significant methylome alterations, though based on smaller sample sizes. Particulate matter levels were positively associated in several studies with global or LINE-1 hypomethylation, a hallmark of several diseases, and with decondensed chromatin structure. Several air pollution species altered the DNA methylation clock, inducing accelerated biological aging. The causal nature of identified associations is not clear, however, especially that most originate from countries with low air pollution levels. Existing evidence, gaps, and perspectives are highlighted herein.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Funding

Support for this work was provided by the project EXPOSOMICS, grant agreement 308610-FP7 European Commission, and by the Plan Cancer-Eva-Inserm research grant.

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  1. Akram Ghantous and Michelle Plusquin contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium

    Rossella Alfano, Tim S. Nawrot & Michelle Plusquin

  2. Epigenetics Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert-Thomas, 69008, Lyon, France

    Zdenko Herceg & Akram Ghantous

  3. Environment & Health Unit, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium

    Tim S. Nawrot

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Marc Chadeau-Hyam

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  1. Rossella Alfano
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Rossella Alfano has a PhD fellowship from Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF) Hasselt University.

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Alfano, R., Herceg, Z., Nawrot, T.S. et al. The Impact of Air Pollution on Our Epigenome: How Far Is the Evidence? (A Systematic Review). Curr Envir Health Rpt 5, 544–578 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-018-0218-8

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