Occupational Exposure To Pesticides And Epigenetic Age Acceleration In The Lifelines Cohort Study
Have you ever wondered if your job could be making you age faster? A recent study explored the connection between working with pesticides and how quickly our bodies age on a biological level. Researchers looked at data from over 1,600 individuals, examining their occupational history and various markers of biological aging. They used sophisticated tools called “epigenetic clocks,” which are like biological timekeepers that estimate a person’s true age based on chemical modifications to their DNA, rather than just their chronological age. The findings revealed a consistent link: individuals with occupational exposure to pesticides showed signs of accelerated biological aging, particularly when exposed to herbicides. This means that, at a cellular level, their bodies appeared older than their actual age. While some newer biological aging measures did not show the same association, the consistent finding with established epigenetic clocks suggests that certain environmental exposures in the workplace could be influencing our aging process. This research highlights the importance of understanding how our environment impacts our health and suggests a potential mechanism by which pesticide exposure might contribute to age-related health issues. More long-term studies are needed to confirm these observations and to fully understand the underlying biological pathways involved.
Source: link to paper