While genomics has revolutionised our understanding of hereditary health conditions, research suggests that up to 90% of disease risks are actually linked to environmental exposures rather than genetics alone.
Improved understanding and prevention of chronic illnesses, which account for most healthcare costs in Europe, can be achieved by focusing on the human exposome: the measure of exposures affecting a person’s biology and health over their lifetime – from air pollution and chemicals to diet and stress.
Of the 100,000+ chemicals in commercial use, we have toxicity data for only a tiny fraction, leaving vast gaps in our understanding of how the environment shapes human health.
The latest STOA study reveals how exposomics offers the evidence-based tools that Europe needs to shift from reactive healthcare to proactive disease prevention.
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Useful link:
• STOA study : ‘Human exposome research: Potential, limitations and public policy implications’