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Health Consequences of the Interaction of Our Genome with Our Environment
Citation:
DeMarini, D. Health Consequences of the Interaction of Our Genome with Our Environment. Presented at Environmental Mutagen Society, September 07 - 14, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
presentation for Environmental Mutagen Society Meeting, Bellevue, Washington, 9/7-14/2012
Description:
Health Consequences Of The Interaction Of Our Genome With Our Environment DM DeMarini, US EPA, RTP, NC 27711 Our primary exposures to potentially mutagenic agents are via the air, water, soil, combustion emissions, and food. Thus, characterizing the mutations induced by these agents and the potential modulation of this mutagenesis by genotype is critical to assessing health risks from these environmental exposures. Mutagenicity and mutation spectra studies of drinking water and swimming pool water extracts, as well as individual disinfection by-products, in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay show that GC to TA and GC to AT mutations an: the most common mutations induced by organic extracts of these waters, regardless of disinfection method (e.g., chlorination, ozonation, chloramination, etc.). Swimmers increase the mutagenicity of swimming pool water, which is also mutagenic to swimmers, producing micronuclei and mutagenic urine after 40 min of swimming. Brominated trihalomethanes are activated to mutagens by GSTTJ, and the combination of this polymorphic gene, along with a SNP in GSTZ, is present in 25% of the population. This combination of genes/alleles may increase risk for bladder cancer from dermal/inhalation exposure to disinfected water. The particulate fraction of urban air and combustion emissions induce primarily GC to TA mutations, which are also the primary ones in KRAS and P53 oflung tumors from women whose lung cancer is associated with exposure to smoky coal emissions in China. Their lung cancer risk is increased by GSTMJ-null, AKRJ C3, and a SNP in OGG1. Thus, mutations and cancer risk from these common environmental media may be modulated by genotype. [Abstract does not necessarily reflect the policy of the USEPA.]