Hallmarks of environmental insults

Environmental insults impair human health around the world. Contaminated air, water, soil, food, and occupational and household settings expose humans of all ages to a plethora of chemicals and environmental stressors. We propose eight hallmarks of environmental insults that jointly underpin the damaging impact of environmental exposures during the lifespan. Specifically, they include oxidative stress and inflammation, genomic alterations and mutations, epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, endocrine disruption, altered intercellular communication, altered microbiome communities, and impaired nervous system function. They provide a framework to understand why complex mixtures of environmental exposures induce severe health effects even at relatively modest concentrations.

Automated summary

Environmental insults such as contaminated air, water, and food expose human beings to a plethora of chemicals and stressors, impacting health at all stages of life. The proposed eight hallmarks of environmental insults encompass oxidative stress, genomic alterations, epigenetic changes, and disruptions to various bodily functions, offering insight into the severe health effects induced by complex mixtures of environmental exposures.