#Talking3RScience Webinar Series

Fenna C.M. Sillé

Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)

“The Exposome: A lifetime of Exposures Complementing the Genome“

The exposome encompasses the totality of human environmental (i.e., non-genetic) exposures, both internal and external, from conception to death, complementing the genome. Complementing the human genome with an exposome reflects the increasingly obvious impact of environmental exposure, which far exceeds the role of genetics, on human health.

In a holistic way the exposome encompasses: 1) a life-time internal exposome including the microbiome, inflammation, and other internal processes, 2) the underlying external exposures such as environmental chemical, physical, and biological contaminants arising from indoor and outdoor environments, including occupation and lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, behavior), and 3) the social, economic, ecological, and psychological factors that can affect our health status.

Effectively, the exposome is a measurement of the cumulative imprint of environmental influences and associated biological responses throughout the life span.
In this webinar, the exposome concept, potential implementations, and challenges, will be discussed.