Global Health Initiative Urges Policy Shift as Exposome Research Advances
A growing body of research mapping the totality of human environmental exposures – the ”exposome” – is revealing critical links to health outcomes, yet faces a widening chasm between scientific understanding and political action, researchers warn.The call for policy change comes as environmental protections are rolled back in key nations, hindering efforts to address preventable disease and environmental risks.
The urgency stems from a mounting disconnect: while exposome research is poised to deliver increasingly precise data on how environmental factors impact health across a lifespan, global efforts to translate this knowledge into effective regulation are faltering. Recent setbacks include the collapse of negotiations for a legally binding plastics treaty, blocked by the USA and petrochemical-producing nations, and a retreat from environmental regulations within the USA, exemplified by the forthcoming “Make America Healthy Again” report which avoids regulation of ultra-processed foods and pesticides despite acknowledging associated health risks. Concurrently, the European Union has seen a rollback of certain environmental protections2, while the Trump governance has dismantled the Environmental Protection Agency and withdrawn from the Paris Agreement3.
Exposome research aims to capture the full spectrum of environmental influences - from air and water quality to diet and social stressors – and correlate them with molecular changes and health outcomes. Researchers emphasize the need for broader studies encompassing diverse populations and deeper investigations tracking exposures over entire lifetimes.
To bridge the gap between knowledge and action, researchers advocate for strong cross-sector collaboration and the generation of irrefutable evidence that compels policymakers to address environmental health risks. The hope is that clear, persistent data will minimize opportunities for inaction and foster accountability.4, 5
