Impact of Heavy Metals and Chemicals on Epigenetic Changes

Abstract

More than 13 million people die each year as a result of environmental contaminants, and it is estimated that up to 24% of diseases are brought on by avoidable environmental exposures. Different environmental chemicals were discovered in the blood and urine of the US population during a screening sponsored by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, revealing the level of human exposure to environmental chemicals. A growing body of research indicates that environmental toxins may affect gene expression in ways that affect the development of diseases. The first stages of gene transcription need dynamic chromatin remodeling, which is accomplished by changing how accessible gene promoters and regulatory regions are. These regulatory procedures involve epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation, histone changes, and microRNAs (miRNAs), which in turn regulate gene expression. Exposure to various environmental toxins has been found to create changes in these epigenetic markers, and some of them have been connected to a variety of diseases, along with their causes, treatments, and preventative measures.