Urban Exposome and Biological Age

University of Pavia151 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the impact of the urban exposome, including air pollution and lifestyle-related stressors, on biological aging, inflammatory pathways, oxidative stress, and DNA methylation patterns in healthy workers exposed to urban air pollution in the city of Pavia, Italy. The study population included 151 adult workers, divided into two groups: outdoor workers (including police officers, taxi drivers, and dustmen) and an indoor control group composed of office workers from the University of Pavia and ICS Maugeri hospital with minimal outdoor exposure. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does chronic exposure to urban air pollutants such as NO2, SO2, O3, benzene, volatile organic compounds, and PM2.5 influence inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and biological aging? * Is exposure to urban pollution associated with changes in DNA methylation patterns and epigenetic age acceleration? * How do lifestyle factors, nutritional status, sleep quality, physical activity, smoking habits, and perceived quality of life interact with the urban exposome and biological outcomes? Researchers will compare outdoor workers with indoor workers to evaluate differences in environmental exposure, inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress, DNA methylation profiles, and estimated biological age. Participants will: * Undergo clinical assessments, with interviews regarding occupational history. * Undergo anthropometric and nutritional evaluations, including body composition analysis and blood chemistry tests; answer questionnaires about physical activity, smoking habits, sleep quality, and perceived quality of life; undergo interviews about dietary habits. * Wear passive personal air samplers for approximately 5 working days to measure exposure to urban air pollutants. * Provide blood samples for analysis of inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, thyroid-related biomarkers, and epigenetic modifications. * Undergo DNA methylation analyses using epigenetic techniques to estimate biological age and evaluate associations between pollutant exposure and epigenetic changes. * Receive feedback regarding their environmental exposure and general health and nutritional status. This interdisciplinary observational study adopts an exposome-based approach integrating environmental monitoring, occupational medicine, nutrition, and epigenetics to better understand the relationship between urban environmental exposure and human health.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years or older; * Male or female participants; * Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent; * Employment in occupations performed predominantly outdoors in an urban environment with exposure to atmospheric pollution, i.e. employment as urban police officers, police personnel, public transport workers, taxi drivers, newsstand workers, or other outdoor urban workers in the city of Pavia; * Employment in predominantly indoor office-based occupations with minimal occupational exposure to outdoor urban air pollution (control group), i.e. workers undergoing occupational health surveillance at ICS Maugeri or affiliated institutions. Exclusion Criteria: * Current diagnosis of active oncological disease; * Current treatment with immunosuppressive therapy; * Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent; * Medical conditions preventing participation in blood sampling or study assessments; * Pregnancy or breastfeeding (if applicable and according to Ethics Committee recommendations).

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

DNA Methylation Profile Associated With Urban Air Pollution Exposure

DNA methylation patterns are evaluated in peripheral blood samples from participants exposed to different levels of urban air pollution. Genomic DNA is extracted and analyzed using bisulfite sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and pyrosequencing techniques to quantify DNA methylation in specific genomic regions. Methylation measures are evaluated in relation to participants' measured exposure to urban air pollutants.

Time frame: Baseline

Secondary Outcomes

Biological Age Estimated using an Epigenetic Clock Analysis in Workers Exposed to Urban Air Pollution

Biological age is estimated using an epigenetic clock algorithm based on DNA methylation patterns measured in peripheral blood samples. Biological age estimates are compared between workers highly exposed to urban air pollution during outdoor occupational activities and workers with minimal occupational exposure to outdoor urban air pollution.