Polluted air and household chemicals accelerate aging

Specialists from the USA have studied the relationship between toxic substances in the air, water and food and the biological age of a person. It turned out that certain pollutants can accelerate the aging process, increasing the likelihood of age-related diseases.

The study covered data from 2,346 people between the ages of 50 and 84 collected as part of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Analyzing the participants’ blood and urine, the scientists tested the levels of 64 different chemical compounds, including heavy metals, pesticides and industrial waste. They then compared these data with epigenetic markers of aging – a special biological clock that shows how fast the body is aging at the DNA level.

The effects of cadmium, a toxic metal found in cigarette smoke and some foods, were particularly pronounced. People with high levels of cadmium in their blood showed signs of accelerated aging. Similar effects have been reported in those whose bodies have accumulated cotinine, a substance produced by tobacco exposure. Lead, which is found in old paint and contaminated water, has also been shown to be linked to an acceleration of the biological clock.

In contrast, some pollutants, such as a certain type of PCB (PCB118) and dioxin (HpCDD), have been found to be linked to slower aging. However, the scientists emphasize that this effect is not necessarily positive – slower aging processes can also lead to adverse effects in some cases.

A distinctive feature of this study was its large scale. In contrast to previous studies that examined the influence of individual substances, here the scientists analyzed a wide range of pollutants on a large sample of people at once. The conclusion is obvious: daily exposure to harmful chemicals affects biological age and can contribute to the development of chronic diseases.

The authors of the work call for reflection on health protection measures. Reducing exposure to toxic substances such as cadmium and lead can slow aging and reduce the risk of age-related diseases. This emphasizes the importance of environmental policies to reduce air, water and food pollution.