Alterogens and multiple exposures

POLLUTION : Area 1

Alterogens and multiple exposures

Human, animal, plant, and microbial organisms are exposed to a variety of physical pollutants (noise, radio frequencies, particulates, etc.), chemical pollutants (metallic trace elements, radio elements, synthetic organic compounds including pesticides and plastic polymers, gaseous and particulate air pollutants, etc.), and biological pollutants (microorganisms, etc.), some of which may play a critical role in the environment or human health.

For this reason, research in this first area focuses on the characterization of the eco-exposome, an essential step in the assessment and management of environmental and health risks. This includes the development of state-of-the-art analytical technologies and innovative (bio)sensors to optimise the detection and (quantitative) measurement of contaminants in a variety of biological matrices and environmental compartments.

On the left : Representation of the human exposome, i.e., the (non-genetic) environmental factors that affect us from conception through development in utero to the end of life, complementing the effect of the genome. The three ‘circles,” starting from the centre, are 1) organism-internal, 2) behavioural, and 3) external factors. Source: Nathalie Ruaux, Anses.

In addition to identifying the alteragens present, the projects developed aim to better characterise the intensity and time course of pollution (= external exposure) and the impregnation of biological receptors (= internal exposure). While single pollutant approaches have improved our overall knowledge, research in this area is mainly concerned with co-exposure to cocktails of alteragens to account for possible interactions (additivity, antagonism, synergy). This assessment of the exposure profiles of human, animal, plant, and microbial populations aims to identify the relationships between the intrinsic characteristics of the contaminants, the sources and pathways of contamination of the biological receptors, and the bioavailable fractions, i.e., those that can be transferred to the organisms and interact with the sites of toxic action. Thus, in addition to assessing external exposure, one of the goals of this first area of research is to better describe internal exposure and its modulation by specific factors such as habitat, lifestyle, trophic level, and microbiome.