Pollution Accelerates Aging on a Cellular Level

Research from Hasselt University published in Environmental Science & Technology suggests that pollution can speed up cellular senescence, reports Earth.com . Exposure to pollution has demonstrated effects on mitochondrial DNA content and telomere length, which are key elements in human aging. Certain contaminants cause mitochondria to discharge more reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage DNA, fats, and proteins, subsequently causing the mitochondria to malfunction and generate even more ROS. Telomeres form the DNA-protein caps on the ends of chromosomes that allow them to maintain their division, and shorter telomeres are typical of aging while abnormally longer telomeres are frequently found in cancer cells. The Hasselt team assessed these two factors in blood samples, and also used multi-pollutant models for concurrent pollutant analysis. Study participants with higher levels of urinary copper and serum perfluorohexane sulfonic acid exhibited less mitochondrial DNA content and shorter telomeres. However, certain pollutants were associated with either more mitochondrial DNA content or longer telomeres.