The impact of environmental exposures on DNA methylation in the EXPANSE project.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Living in an urban environment exposes the population to a mix of environmental and social factors, known as the Urban Exposome, that can influence health via changes in DNA methylation. We hypothesised that linking urban exposures with epigenome-wide DNA methylation in blood can reveal impacts across the lifespan.

Methods

In the EXPANSE project, we conducted an inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies of seven European cohorts. Urban exposures were estimated at participants' home addresses and included air pollution (PM2.5, NO₂, O₃), light at night, modified soil-adjusted vegetation index, and urbanicity.

Findings

DNA methylation was measured in blood samples from 1778 children (4-10 years), 878 ad

SUBMITTER: Vogli M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12794040 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature