Children and teens exposed to traffic-related air pollution found to be at an increased risk of DNA damage, recent study reveals
-In recent preliminary study researchers from the University of California (Berkeley), investigated if telomere shortening could be used as a biomarker of DNA damage. with the increased risk researchers
-Amongst the several causes for telomere shortening, pollution and increased exposure to the environmental pollutants were the most common ones.
-The study included about 14 children and adults living in California and assessed the association between PAHs (a common air pollutant coming out of motor vehicles) and shortening of telomeres.
-It was observed that as the PAH levels increased, the length of the telomere decreased. It was also observed that children with asthma were exposed to higher levels of PAHs compared to those who did not have asthma.
-Findings were published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.