Toxic metals and particulate matter in fire smoke cause DNA methylation changes in immune cells, potentially heightening the risk for diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammation. Digest
Fire smoke contains a mix of toxic metals, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and fine particulate matter, which can disrupt immune system function. A recent study found that smoke exposure is linked to changes in DNA methylation at 133 gene sites involved in immune regulation, cancer, and inflammation.
Researchers compared blood samples from 31 people exposed to fire smoke with 29 non-exposed people who were matched by age and sex. They used an advanced single-cell approach that combined DNA methylation analysis and mass cytometry to study both epigenetic changes and the presence of toxic metals in individual immune cells. This method allowed them to track how metals like mercury and cadmium interacted with specific cells and altered immune responses.
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They found that in 2020 alone, nearly 25 million people around the world were exposed to dangerously high levels of fine particulate matter from smoke, leading to a documented rise in respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and pregnancy-related complications. They also identified elevated levels of mercury in dead immune cells and cadmium in both living and dead cells. The amount of mercury in cells rose with the number of years a person had been exposed to smoke. People exposed to fire smoke showed more signs of immune system activation, including higher levels of memory CD8-positive T cells and markers that indicate increased movement and activity of immune cells.
These findings suggest that airborne pollutants in smoke exposure rewires immune function in ways that may increase the risk for disease, including cancer and chronic inflammation. Sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, boosts the detoxification of airborne pollutants like those in smoke. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Jed Fahey.