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Environmental Health Is Overlooked in Longevity Research
Summary
This review argues that environmental pollutants, including microplastics, are a major but overlooked driver of biological aging. Exposure to pollutants triggers oxidative stress that damages DNA, shortens telomeres, and accelerates the aging process at the cellular level, potentially costing people 5 to 10 years of healthy life. The authors call for longevity research to take environmental health more seriously, including the role of microplastic exposure in accelerating aging.
Aging is a multifactorial process influenced by genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices. Environmental exposures are too often overlooked. Environmental pollutants-ranging from airborne particulate matter and heavy metals to endocrine disruptors and microplastics-accelerate biological aging. Oxidative stress is a major molecular initiating event, driving inflammation and toxicity across biological levels. We detail the mechanisms by which pollutants enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This oxidative stress inflicts damage on DNA, proteins, and lipids, accelerating telomere shortening, dysregulating autophagy, and ultimately driving epigenetic age acceleration. For instance, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, and pesticides has been associated with increased DNA methylation age. Early-life exposures and lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption further contribute to accelerated biological aging. The cumulative loss of healthy life years caused by these factors can conceivably reach between 5 and 10 years per person. Addressing pollutant-induced accelerated aging through regulatory measures, lifestyle changes, and therapeutic interventions is essential to mitigate their detrimental impacts, ultimately extending healthspan and improving quality of life in aging populations.