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Environmental Toxicants in the Hispanic Community Epigenetically Contributing to Preeclampsia
Summary
Researchers reviewed how environmental toxicants disproportionately affecting the Hispanic community, including heavy metals, phthalates, and micro/nanoplastics, may contribute to higher rates of preeclampsia through epigenetic mechanisms. The study proposes that chronic exposure to these pollutants can alter gene and protein expression without changing the DNA sequence, potentially leading to the development of this serious pregnancy complication. The review highlights environmental justice concerns in understanding disparate health outcomes.
Preeclampsia is a multisystemic cardiovascular pregnancy complication that endangers the lives of both mother and child. Its prevalence disproportionately burdens women of different races and ethnicities nationwide. Specifically, Hispanic women experience higher rates of preeclampsia compared to Non-Hispanic White women; however, the explanation for this phenomenon is still elusive. To decipher these disparate rates, environmental factors that the Hispanic community is excessively exposed to may need to be considered. Environmental toxicants such as particulate matter, heavy metals, phthalates, as well as microplastics and nanoplastics are ubiquitous within the Hispanic environment. From places of employment to in the home, the role of chronic toxicant exposure in Hispanic women may begin to explain the gap in the prevalence of preeclampsia development. To understand the relationship between toxicant exposure and preeclampsia, we explored epigenetic concepts. With the capacity to respond to the environment in a heritable and reversible manner, epigenetics changes the expression of genes and proteins while leaving the DNA sequence intact. Epigenetic modifications can be dysregulated upon toxicant exposure and can potentially lead to the development of preeclampsia. Here, in this review, we propose the potential epigenetic links through which Hispanic women's disproportionate environmental exposure to toxicants can be conducive to preeclampsia development.