Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective
Eating seafood has numerous health benefits; however, it constitutes one of the main sources of exposure to several harmful environmental pollutants, both of anthropogenic and natural origin. Among these, methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons give rise to concerns related to their possi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/23/11179 |
| _version_ | 1797508100845993984 |
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| author | Andrea De Giovanni Cristina Giuliani Mauro Marini Donata Luiselli |
| author_facet | Andrea De Giovanni Cristina Giuliani Mauro Marini Donata Luiselli |
| author_sort | Andrea De Giovanni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Eating seafood has numerous health benefits; however, it constitutes one of the main sources of exposure to several harmful environmental pollutants, both of anthropogenic and natural origin. Among these, methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons give rise to concerns related to their possible effects on human biology. In the present review, we summarize the results of epidemiological investigations on the genetic component of individual susceptibility to methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in humans, and on the effects that these two pollutants have on human epigenetic profiles (DNA methylation). Then, we provide evidence that Mediterranean coastal communities represent an informative case study to investigate the potential impact of methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the human genome and epigenome, since they are characterized by a traditionally high local seafood consumption, and given the characteristics that render the Mediterranean Sea particularly polluted. Finally, we discuss the challenges of a molecular anthropological approach to this topic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:58:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b4458f1576254b06939d61cc520530aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:58:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-b4458f1576254b06939d61cc520530aa2023-11-23T02:03:56ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-11-0111231117910.3390/app112311179Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological PerspectiveAndrea De Giovanni0Cristina Giuliani1Mauro Marini2Donata Luiselli3Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, ItalyLaboratory of Molecular Anthropology & Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, ItalyFano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies (FMC), Viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, ItalyDepartment of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Via degli Ariani 1, 48121 Ravenna, ItalyEating seafood has numerous health benefits; however, it constitutes one of the main sources of exposure to several harmful environmental pollutants, both of anthropogenic and natural origin. Among these, methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons give rise to concerns related to their possible effects on human biology. In the present review, we summarize the results of epidemiological investigations on the genetic component of individual susceptibility to methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure in humans, and on the effects that these two pollutants have on human epigenetic profiles (DNA methylation). Then, we provide evidence that Mediterranean coastal communities represent an informative case study to investigate the potential impact of methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the human genome and epigenome, since they are characterized by a traditionally high local seafood consumption, and given the characteristics that render the Mediterranean Sea particularly polluted. Finally, we discuss the challenges of a molecular anthropological approach to this topic.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/23/11179reviewDNA methylationgenetic polymorphismsecogeneticsanthropologyenvironmental pollutants |
| spellingShingle | Andrea De Giovanni Cristina Giuliani Mauro Marini Donata Luiselli Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective Applied Sciences review DNA methylation genetic polymorphisms ecogenetics anthropology environmental pollutants |
| title | Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective |
| title_full | Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective |
| title_short | Methylmercury and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Seafood: A Molecular Anthropological Perspective |
| title_sort | methylmercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mediterranean seafood a molecular anthropological perspective |
| topic | review DNA methylation genetic polymorphisms ecogenetics anthropology environmental pollutants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/23/11179 |
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