The Exposome and Health: Where Chemistry Meets Biology

Introduction

• Authors: Roel Vermeulen, Emma L. Schymanski, Albert-László Barabási, Gary W. Miller
• Purpose: Address the complexity of chemical exposure and its impact on human health.
• Exposome Concept: Captures the diversity of exposures (synthetic chemicals, diet, stressors, physical factors) and biological responses.
• Technological Advances: High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and network science are pivotal.

Genomics vs. Exposomics

• Genomics: Provides genetic knowledge but lacks environmental influences.
• Exposome: Coined by C.P. Wild, represents non-genetic health drivers.
• Rappaport and Smith (2010): Toxic effects mediated through chemicals affecting body processes.

Environmental Impact on Health

• Genetic Contribution: Less than half for common diseases like heart disease.
• Global Burden of Disease (GBD): 60% of deaths linked to modifiable environmental factors.
• Economic Impact: Chemical pollution costs $4.6 trillion/year.

Mapping the Exposome

• HRMS: Measures vast chemical species, expanding analytical scope.
• Chemical Databases: Include PubChem, Human Metabolome Database.
• Challenges: Many chemical features remain unannotated.

Integrating Chemical Knowledge

• Interdisciplinary Approach: Essential for exposome definition and data science challenges.
• Literature Mining: For accurate chemical annotation.
• Chemical Networks: Group correlated exposures to simplify complexity.

Environment-wide Association Studies (EWAS)

• EWAS: Identify environmental factors in diseases.
• Similar to GWAS: Study multiple exposures in relation to phenotypes.
• Challenges: Initial studies have limitations; need for statistical methods for mixtures.

Network Science and Exposome

• Multilayer Network Framework: Captures diverse chemical interactions.
• Challenges: Lack of data on exposure dimensions and dynamic biochemical pathways.

Study Designs in Exposomics

• Meet-in-the-Middle (MITM) Design: Links exposures with biological and health phenotypes.
• Scaling up: Large sample sizes needed for comprehensive studies.
• Human Exposome Project: Aims for large-scale environmental analysis.

Next Steps and Conclusion

• Research Needs: Systematic profiling of non-genetic disease factors.
• Technological Improvements: For high-throughput screening and data resources.
• International Collaboration: Similar to the Human Genome Project, needed for exposomics.
• Exposome Risk Score (ERS): Similar to polygenic risk score, identifies environmental risk hotspots.

References

• Cited works on exposome research and methodologies.

Acknowledgments

• Funding and support details for the authors and contributing organizations.

Conclusion

• Importance of understanding the interface of genetic and environmental factors in health.

This summary encapsulates the essence of the exposome concept and its significance in understanding the relationship between environmental exposures and health outcomes.