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Genetics, Epigenetics, and the Environment: Are Precision Medicine, Provider Compassion, and Social Justice Effective Public Health Measures to Mitigate Disease Risk and Severity?

Author

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  • Philip M. Iannaccone

    (Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60611, USA)

  • Rebecca J. Ryznar

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rocky Vista University, Englewood, CO 80112, USA)

  • Lon J. Van Winkle

    (Department of Medical Humanities, Rocky Vista University, Englewood, CO 80112, USA
    Department of Biochemistry, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA)

Abstract

Environmental forces impacting public health include exposure to toxic substances, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), diet, and exercise. Here, we examine the first two of these forces in some detail since they may be amenable to correction through cultural, medical, and practitioner intervention. At the same time, changing people’s dietary and exercise routines are likely more resistant to these interventions and are referred to only incidentally in this review. That is, societal efforts could prevent exposure to toxicants and ACEs—not necessarily requiring cooperation by the affected individuals—whereas changing diet and exercise practices requires an individual’s discipline. Toxic substances considered in this review include endocrine disruptors, arsenics, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the organic solvent, Trichloroethylene (TCE), and the Benzo[ a ]pyrene (B[ a ]P) produced from incomplete combustion of tobacco and other organic materials. Exposure to each of these toxic substances may have serious adverse health effects, especially in genetically more susceptible individuals. For example, children of mothers exposed to the endocrine disruptor, Atrazine, have significantly lower birth length, weight, and head circumference. Moreover, male offspring exhibit genital abnormalities, and all of these effects may be transgenerational. However, analyses of interactions among genes, the environment, and epigenetic modifications have already revealed distinctive individual risks of adverse reactions to toxic exposure. So, interventions through precision medicine might improve the health of those exposed individuals. Adults previously exposed to more than one ACE (e.g., child abuse and inter-parental violence) are more likely to develop anxiety, cancer, and diabetes. Detecting ACE exposures in children in the general population is fraught with difficulty. Thus, the risks of ACEs to our health remain even more insidious than exposures to toxicants. Nevertheless, higher provider compassion is associated with significantly better clinical outcomes for patients with these afflictions. For all these reasons, the first major aim of this review is to recount several of the major forces contributing to or impairing public health. Our second major aim is to examine mitigating influences on these forces, including social justice and provider compassion in the setting of precision medicine. Idealistically, these mitigators might eventually lead to the development of more cooperative and compassionate cultures and societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip M. Iannaccone & Rebecca J. Ryznar & Lon J. Van Winkle, 2024. "Genetics, Epigenetics, and the Environment: Are Precision Medicine, Provider Compassion, and Social Justice Effective Public Health Measures to Mitigate Disease Risk and Severity?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-17, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:11:p:1522-:d:1522219
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abdulrahman Jbaily & Xiaodan Zhou & Jie Liu & Ting-Hwan Lee & Leila Kamareddine & Stéphane Verguet & Francesca Dominici, 2022. "Air pollution exposure disparities across US population and income groups," Nature, Nature, vol. 601(7892), pages 228-233, January.
    2. Brian D. Schwartz & Shane L. Rogers & Nicole Michels & Lon J. Van Winkle, 2024. "Substantial Increases in Healthcare Students’ State Empathy Scores Owing to Participation in a Single Improvisation Session," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-14, April.
    3. Lon J. Van Winkle & Brian D. Schwartz & Alexis Horst & Jensen A. Fisher & Nicole Michels & Bradley O. Thornock, 2021. "Impact of a Pandemic and Remote Learning on Team Development and Elements of Compassion in Prospective Medical Students Taking a Medical Humanities Course," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, May.
    4. James E Bennett & Helen Tamura-Wicks & Robbie M Parks & Richard T Burnett & C Arden Pope III & Matthew J Bechle & Julian D Marshall & Goodarz Danaei & Majid Ezzati, 2019. "Particulate matter air pollution and national and county life expectancy loss in the USA: A spatiotemporal analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Brian D. Schwartz & Alexis Horst & Jenifer A. Fisher & Nicole Michels & Lon J. Van Winkle, 2020. "Fostering Empathy, Implicit Bias Mitigation, and Compassionate Behavior in a Medical Humanities Course," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, March.
    6. De Silva, Dakshina G. & McComb, Robert P. & Schiller, Anita R. & Slechten, Aurelie, 2021. "Firm behavior and pollution in small geographies," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
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