Accelerated Aging and Age-Related Diseases (CVD and Neurological) Due to Air Pollution and Traffic Noise Exposure

Abstract

The World Health Organization estimates that only approximately 25% of diversity in longevity is explained by genetic factors, while the other 75% is largely determined by interactions with the physical and social environments. Indeed, aging is a multifactorial process that is influenced by a range of environmental, sociodemographic, and biopsychosocial factors, all of which might act in concert to determine the process of aging. The global average life expectancy increased fundamentally over the past century, toward an aging population, correlating with the development and onset of age-related diseases, mainly from cardiovascular and neurological nature. Therefore, the identification of determinants of healthy and unhealthy aging is a major goal to lower the burden and socioeconomic costs of age-related diseases. The role of environmental factors (such as air pollution and noise exposure) as crucial determinants of the aging process are being increasingly recognized. Here, we critically review recent findings concerning the pathomechanisms underlying the aging process and their correlates in cardiovascular and neurological disease, centered on oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as the influence of prominent environmental pollutants, namely air pollution and traffic noise exposure, which is suggested to accelerate the aging process. Insight into these types of relationships and appropriate preventive strategies are urgently needed to promote healthy aging.

Physical Activity in Polluted Air—Net Benefit or Harm to Cardiovascular Health? A Comprehensive Review

“…Oxidative stress and inflammation represent the common denominator of the adverse cardiorespiratory health effects of air pollution. Recent evidence from human and animal studies suggests that exposure to multiple air pollutants may have the potential to increase systemic oxidative stress and inflammation, both relevant to mediating disease risk (reviewed in [ 16 , 17 ]). However, understanding the complete picture of underlying pathomechanisms is still ongoing, and complex interactions with other risk and lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, are very likely.…”

“…In contrast, practically no evidence is available concerning the joint effects of physical activity and air pollution on mental health. Besides the proposed biological effects centered on oxidative stress and inflammatory processes (that are also involved in the pathogenesis of mental disorders [ 16 , 17 ]), high levels of air pollution may also affect mental health through interference with health related behaviors such as less outdoor physical activity with face to face social contact, which represents an effective way to cope with mental health related stressors [ 8 ]. Interestingly, a recent study found lower PM 10 exposure to be associated with life satisfaction, more self-esteem, and higher stress resilience in 3020 German adults [ 112 ].…”

Sex Associated Effects of Noise Pollution in Stone Sculpin (Paracottus knerii) as a Model Object in the Context of Human-Induced Rapid Environmental Change

“…The problem of noise in the underwater environment was discussed at the 19th meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP- 19) where the negative consequences of the impact of anthropogenic noise on aquatic life were noted, including disruption of communication between individuals, displacement of animals from their breeding and feeding grounds, and the occurrence of stress and disease leading to death [1]. Ship noise is considered the most widespread continuous underwater pollutant, and it can completely dominate low-frequency (up to 500 Hz) soundscapes in heavily trafficked areas [2,3].…”

“…The higher-stress situations may have maladaptive or negative consequences (distress), including pathogenic effects [19]. It is also worth noting that the consequences of prolonged stress are particularly deleterious due to energetic costs associated with coping with the stress response (allostatic load), negatively affecting other vital functions, including reproduction [20] and enabling changes at the population and species levels [9,21].…”

“…Nonetheless, recent studies of aquatic animals, particularly fish, have been primarily focused on initial inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways as a result of noise exposure [30][31][32], while data linking noise exposure to measures such as mitochondrial alterations, DNA methylation, and telomere length are almost absent. There are few studies indicating that noise exposure, similar to air pollution, may affect the health of humans, birds, or mollusks via DNA methylation and telomere length [19,[33][34][35][36]. Notably, these studies have mostly used telomere length as a biomarker for the senescence process without investigating the links between biological markers of senescence and hearing loss.…”