Abstract
Today’s hectic and demanding lifestyle leaves no time for anyone to focus on the personal health aspects which in the long run is hazardous to one’s health. Environmental and occupational stresses are found to play a specific role in aging process. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of telomeres as a possible biomarker of aging and to identify the potential exposures causing telomere length attrition. Better choice of these exposures can further help to increase lifespan. This paper reviews the published data on the effect of various work environment exposures on telomere length attrition. It also discusses future directions for telomere length related research.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Siemiatycki, J., Richardson, L., Straif, K., Latreille, B., Lakhani, R., Campbell, S., Rousseau, M.C., Boffetta, P.: Listing occupational carcinogens. Environ. Health Perspect. 112(15), 1447–1459 (2004)
Newman-Taylor, A.J., Coggon, D.: Attribution of disease. In: Baxter, P.J., Aw, T.C., Cockcroft, A., Durrington, P., Harrington, J.M. (eds.) Hunter’s Diseases of Occupations, 10th edn, pp. 89–95. Hodder Arnold, London (2010)
Doll, R., Peto, R.: The causes of cancer: quantitative estimates of avoidable risks of cancer in the United States today. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 66(6), 1191–1308 (1981)
Frenck, R.W., Blackburn Jr., E.H., Shannon, K.M.: The rate of telomere sequence loss in human leukocytes varies with age. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95(10), 5607–5610 (1998)
Chan, S.W., Blackburn, E.H.: New ways not to make ends meet: telomerase, DNA damage proteins and heterochromatin. Oncogene 21(4), 553–563 (2002)
Shiels, P.G., Mc Glynn, L.M., Mac Intyre, A., Johnson, P.C., Batty, G.D., Burns, H., Cavanagh, J., Deans, K.A., Ford, I., Mc Connachie, A., Mc Ginty, A., Mc Lean, J.S., Millar, K., Sattar, N., Tannahill, C., Velupillai, Y.N., Packard, C.J.: Accelerated telomere attrition is associated with relative household income, diet and inflammation in the p SoBid cohort. PLoS One 6(7), e22521 (2011)
Fyhrquist, F., Saijonmaa, O.: Telomere length and cardiovascular aging. Ann. Med. 44(Suppl. 1), S138–S142 (2012)
Song, Z., von Figura, G., Liu, Y., Kraus, J.M., Torrice, C., Dillon, P., Rudolph-Watabe, M., Ju, Z., Kestler, H.A., Sanoff, H., Lenhard Rudolph, K.: Lifestyle impacts on the aging-associated expression of biomarkers of DNA damage and telomere dysfunction in human blood. Aging Cell 9(4), 607–615 (2010)
Valdes, A.M., Andrew, T., Gardner, J.P., Kimura, M., Oelsner, E., Cherkas, L.F., Aviv, A., Spector, T.D.: Obesity, cigarette smoking, and telomere length in women. Lancet 366(9486), 662–664 (2005)
Puterman, E., Epel, E.: An intricate dance: life experience, multisystem resiliency, and rate of telomere decline throughout the lifespan. Soc. Pers. Psychol. Compass 6(11), 807–825 (2012)
Adaikalakoteswari, A., Balasubramanyam, M., Mohan, V.: Telomere shortening occurs in Asian Indian type 2 diabetic patients. Diabet. Med. J. Br. Diabet. Assoc. 22(9), 1151–1156 (2005)
Benetos, A., Gardner, J.P., Zureik, M., Labat, C., Xiaobin, L., Adamopoulos, C., Temmar, M., Bean, K.E., Thomas, F., Aviv, A.: Short telomeres are associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive subjects. Hypertension 43(2), 182–185 (2004)
Getliffe, K.M., Martin Ruiz, C., Passos, J.F., von Zglinicki, T., Nwokolo, C.U.: Extended lifespan and long telomeres in rectal fibroblasts from late-onset ulcerative colitis patients. Euro. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 18(2), 133–141 (2006)
Ornish, D., Lin, J., Daubenmier, J., Weidner, G., Epel, E., Kemp, C., Magbanua, M.J., Marlin, R., Yglecias, L., Carroll, P.R., Blackburn, E.H.: Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study. Lancet Oncol. 9(11), 1048–1057 (2008)
von Zglinicki, T., Martin-Ruiz, C.M.: Telomeres as biomarkers for ageing and age-related diseases. Curr. Mol. Med. 5(2), 197–203 (2005)
Sampson, M.J., Winterbone, M.S., Hughes, J.C., Dozio, N., Hughes, D.A.: Monocyte telomere shortening and oxidative DNA damage in type 2 diabetes. Diab. Care 29(2), 283–289 (2006)
Southern, E.M.: Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. J. Mol. Biol. 98(3), 503–517 (1975)
Lengauer, C., Riethman, H., Cremer, T.: Painting of human chromosomes with probes generated from hybrid cell lines by PCR with Alu and L1 primers. Hum. Genet. 86(1), 1–6 (1990)
Lansdorp, P.M., Verwoerd, N.P., van de Rijke, F.M., Dragowska, V., Little, M.T., Dirks, R.W., Raap, A.K., Tanke, H.J.: Heterogeneity in telomere length of human chromosomes. Hum. Mol. Genet. 5(5), 685–691 (1996)
Rufer, N., Dragowska, W., Thornbury, G., Roosnek, E., Lansdorp, P.M.: Telomere length dynamics in human lymphocyte subpopulations measured by flow cytometry. Nat. Biotechnol. 16(8), 743–747 (1998)
Baerlocher, G.M., Lansdorp, P.M.: telomere length measurements in leukocyte subsets by automated multicolor flow-FISH. cytometry. Part A. J. Int. Soc. Anal. Cytol. 55(1), 1–6 (2003)
Baird, D.M., Rowson, J., Wynford-Thomas, D., Kipling, D.: Extensive allelic variation and ultrashort telomeres in senescent human cells. Nat. Genet. 33(2), 203–207 (2003)
Cawthon, R.M.: Telomere measurement by quantitative PCR. Nucleic Acids Res. 30(10), e47 (2002)
O’Callaghan, N.J., Fenech, M.: A quantitative PCR method for measuring absolute telomere length. Bio. Proced. Online 13, 3 (2011)
Cawthon, R.M.: Telomere length measurement by a novel monochrome multiplex quantitative PCR method. Nucleic Acids Res. 37(3), e21 (2009)
Biorad.com (2010). http://www.bio-rad.com/en-in/applications-technologies/droplet-digital-pcr-ddpcr-technology
Pinheiro, L.B., Coleman, V.A., Hindson, C.M., Herrmann, J., Hindson, B.J., Bhat, S., Emslie, K.R.: Evaluation of a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction format for DNA copy number quantification. Anal. Chem. 84(2), 1003–1011 (2012)
Monaghan, P.: Telomeres and life histories: the long and the short of it. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1206, 130–142 (2010)
Blackburn, E.H.: Telomeres and telomerase: the means to the end (Nobel lecture). Angew. Chem. (Int. Ed. Engl.) 49(41), 7405–7421 (2010)
Allsopp, R.C., Harley, C.B.: Evidence for a critical telomere length in senescent human fibroblasts. Exp. Cell Res. 219(1), 130–136 (1995)
Harley, C.B.: Telomere loss: mitotic clock or genetic time bomb? Mutat. Res. 256(2–6), 271–282 (1991)
Butler, R.N., Sprott, R., Warner, H., Bland, J., Feuers, R., Forster, M., Fillit, H., Harman, S.M., Hewitt, M., Hyman, M., Johnson, K., Kligman, E., McClearn, G., Nelson, J., Richardson, A., Sonntag, W., Weindruch, R., Wolf, N.: Biomarkers of aging: from primitive organisms to humans. J. Gerontol. Ser. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 59(6), B560–B567 (2004)
Olovnikov, A.M.: A theory of Marginotomy. the incomplete copying of template margin in enzymic synthesis of polynucleotide’s and biological significance of the phenomenon. J. Theor. Biol. 41(1), 181–190 (1973)
Farzaneh-Far, R., Cawthon, R.M., Na, B., Browner, W.S., Schiller, N.B., Whooley, M.A.: Prognostic value of leukocyte telomere length in patients with stable coronary artery disease: data from the heart and soul study. Arterioscleriosis Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 28(7), 1379–1384 (2008)
Yang, Z., Huang, X., Jiang, H., Zhang, Y., Liu, H., Qin, C., Eisner, G.M., Jose, P.A., Rudolph, L., Ju, Z.: Short telomeres and prognosis of hypertension in a Chinese population. Hypertension 53(4), 639–645 (2009)
Benetti, R., García-Cao, M., Blasco, M.A.: Telomere length regulates the epigenetic status of mammalian telomeres and subtelomeres. Nat. Genet. 39(2), 243–250 (2007)
Cherkas, L.F., Hunkin, J.L., Kato, B.S., Richards, J.B., Gardner, J.P., Surdulescu, G.L., Kimura, M., Lu, X., Spector, T.D., Aviv, A.: The association between physical activity in leisure time and leukocyte telomere length. Arch. Int. Med. 168(2), 154–158 (2008)
Nordfjäll, K., Eliasson, M., Stegmayr, B., Melander, O., Nilsson, P., Roos, G.: Telomere length is associated with obesity parameters but with a gender difference. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md) 16(12), 2682–2689 (2008)
Nawrot, T.S., Staessen, J.A., Gardner, J.P., Aviv, A.: Telomere length and possible link to X chromosome. Lancet 363(9408), 507–510 (2004)
Fitzpatrick, A.L., Kronmal, R.A., Gardner, J.P., Psaty, B.M., Jenny, N.S., Tracy, R.P., Walston, J., Kimura, M., Aviv, A.: Leukocyte telomere length and cardiovascular disease in the cardiovascular health study. Am. J. Epidemiol. 165(1), 14–21 (2007)
Svenson, U., Nordfjäll, K., Baird, D., Roger, L., Osterman, P., et al.: Blood cell telomere length is a dynamic feature. PLoS ONE 6(6), e21485 (2011)
Wu, X., Amos, C.I., Zhu, Y., Zhao, H., Grossman, B.H., Shay, J.W., Luo, S., Hong, W.K., Spitz, M.R.: Telomere dysfunction: a potential cancer predisposition factor. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 95(16), 1211–1218 (2003)
McGrath, M., Wong, J.Y., Michaud, D., Hunter, D.J., De Vivo, I.: Telomere length, cigarette smoking, and bladder cancer risk in men and women. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. Prev. 16(4), 815–819 (2007)
Valdes, A.M., Richards, J.B., Gardner, J.P., Swaminathan, R., Kimura, M., Xiaobin, L., Aviv, A., Spector, T.D.: Telomere length in leukocytes correlates with bone mineral density and is shorter in women with osteoporosis. Osteoporos. Int. 18(9), 1203–1210 (2007)
Zhang, X., Lin, S., Funk, W.E., Hou, L.: Environmental and occupational exposure to chemicals and telomere length in human studies. Occup. Environ. Med. 70(10), 743–749 (2013)
Epel, E.S., Blackburn, E.H., Lin, J., Dhabhar, F.S., Adler, N.E., Morrow, J.D., Cawthon, R.M.: Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101(49), 17312–17315 (2004)
Parks, C.G., McCanlies, E.C., Miller, D.B., Cawthon, R.M., DeRoo, L.A., Sandler, D.B.: Telomere length and work schedule characteristics in the NIEHS sister study. Occup. Environ. Med. 64(12), e21 (2007)
Hoxha, M., Dioni, L., Bonzini, M., Pesatori, A.C., Fustinoni, S., Cavallo, D., Carugno, M., Albetti, B., Marinelli, B., Schwartz, J., Bertazzi, P.A., Baccarelli, A.: Association between leukocyte telomere shortening and exposure to traffic pollution: a cross-sectional study on traffic officers and indoor office workers. Environ. Health 8(1), 41 (2009)
Pavanello, S., Pesatori, A.C., Dioni, L., Hoxha, M., Bollati, V., Siwinska, E., Mielzyńska, D., Bolognesi, C., Bertazzi, P.A., Baccarelli, A.: Shorter telomere length in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Carcinogenesis 31(2), 216–221 (2010)
Dioni, L., Hoxha, M., Nordio, F., Bonzini, M., Tarantini, L., Albetti, B., Savarese, A., Schwartz, J., Bertazzi, P.A., Apostoli, P., Hou, L., Baccarelli, A.: Effects of short-term exposure to inhalable particulate matter on telomere length, telomerase expression, and telomerase methylation in steel workers. Environ. Health Perspect. 119(5), 622–627 (2011)
Li, H., Jönsson, B.A., Lindh, C.H., Albin, M., Broberg, K.: N-nitrosamines are associated with shorter telomere length. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 37(4), 316–324 (2011)
Parks, C.G., DeRoo, L.A., Miller, D.B., McCanlies, E.C., Cawthon, R.M., Sandler, D.P.: Employment and work schedule are related to telomere length in women. Occup. Environ. Med. 68(8), 582–589 (2011)
Ahola, K., Sirén, I., Kivimäki, M., Ripatti, S., Aromaa, A., Lönnqvist, J., Hovatta, I.: Work-related exhaustion and telomere length: a population-based study. PLoS ONE 7(7), e40186 (2012)
Wu, Y., Liu, Y., Ni, N., Bao, B., Zhang, C., Lu, L.: High lead exposure is associated with telomere length shortening in Chinese battery manufacturing plant workers. Occup. Environ. Med. 69(8), 557–563 (2012)
Hou, L., Wang, S., Dou, C., Zhang, X., Yu, Y., Zheng, Y., Avula, U., Hoxha, M., Díaz, A., McCracken, J., Barretta, F., Marinelli, B., Bertazzi, P.A., Schwartz, J., Baccarelli, A.A.: Air pollution exposure and telomere length in highly exposed subjects in Beijing, China: a repeated-measure study. Environ. Int. 48, 71–77 (2012)
Hou, L., Andreotti, G., Baccarelli, A.A., Savage, S., Hoppin, J.A., Sandler, D.P., Barker, J., Zhu, Z.Z., Hoxha, M., Dioni, L., Zhang, X., Koutros, S., Freeman, L.E., Alavanja, M.C.: Lifetime pesticide use and telomere shortening among male pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Environ. Health Perspect. 121(8), 919–924 (2013)
Wong, J.Y., De Vivo, I., Lin, X., Fang, S.C., Christiani, D.C.: The relationship between inflammatory biomarkers and telomere length in an occupational prospective cohort study. PLoS ONE 9(1), e87348 (2014)
Reste, J., Zvigule, G., Zvagule, T., Kurjane, N., Eglite, M., Gabruseva, N., Berzina, D., Plonis, J., Miklasevics, E.: Telomere length in Chernobyl accident recovery workers in the late period after the disaster. J. Radiat. Res. 55(6), 1089–1100 (2014)
Li, H., Hedmer, M., Wojdacz, T., Hossain, M.B., Lindh, C.H., Tinnerberg, H., Albin, M., Broberg, K.: Oxidative stress, telomere shortening, and DNA methylation in relation to low-to-moderate occupational exposure to welding fumes. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56(8), 684–693 (2015)
Pawlas, N., Płachetka, A., Kozłowska, A., Mikołajczyk, A., Kasperczyk, A., Dobrakowski, M., Kasperczyk, S.: Telomere length, telomerase expression, and oxidative stress in lead smelters. Toxicol. Ind. Health 32(12), 1–10 (2015)
Garrett-Bakelman, F.E., Darshi, M., Green, S.J., Gur, R.C., Lin, L., Macias, B.R., Miles McKenna, M.J., Meydan, C., Mishra, T., Nasrini, J., Piening, B.D., et. al.: The NASA twins study: a multidimensional analysis of a year-long human spaceflight. Science 364(6436), eaau8650 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aau8650
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Chandani, J.K., Gandhi, N., Deshmukh, S. (2021). Effect of Environmental and Occupational Exposures on Human Telomere Length and Aging: A Review. In: Abraham, A., Panda, M., Pradhan, S., Garcia-Hernandez, L., Ma, K. (eds) Innovations in Bio-Inspired Computing and Applications. IBICA 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1180. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49339-4_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49339-4_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-49338-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-49339-4
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)