Envirome

The term "envirome" refers to the totality of environmental exposures, both internal and external, that an individual experiences throughout their lifespan. It encompasses a wide range of factors including, but not limited to:

• Physical environment: Geographic location, climate, air and water quality, noise pollution, access to green spaces, the built environment (housing, transportation, urban design).

• Chemical environment: Exposure to pollutants, toxins, industrial chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and other chemical substances through air, water, food, and consumer products.

• Biological environment: Exposure to microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi), allergens, parasites, and other living organisms.

• Social environment: Social networks, community structures, socioeconomic status, cultural norms, education, access to healthcare, crime rates, and social support systems.

• Lifestyle factors: Diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, occupational exposures, recreational activities, and personal behaviors.

• Internal environment: Factors within the body, such as the gut microbiome, metabolic processes, inflammation, and hormone levels, that can be influenced by external environmental exposures.

The envirome is a dynamic and complex system that interacts continuously with an individual's genome (the complete set of genes) to influence health and disease. Understanding the envirome is crucial for identifying environmental risk factors, developing targeted interventions, and promoting public health. The study of the envirome is often associated with the field of environmental health and exposomics, which aims to comprehensively assess and understand the totality of environmental exposures and their impact on human health.