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Updated: May 12, 2026

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Published on: July 12, 2024
Environmental exposures: an underrecognized contribution to noncommunicable diseases
Rosana E Norman1, David O Carpenter, James Scott
1Children's Halth and Environment Program, Queenland Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Queenland, Herston, Australia. r.norman@sph.uq.edu.au
Environmental factors significantly contribute to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), often underestimated due to lifestyle and early-life exposures. Effective prevention requires societal responsibility and improved environmental management to reduce chemical risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Previous assessments of environmental factors' contribution to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been conservative.
- Exclusion of lifestyle behavioral risk factors and early-life exposures to chemical contaminants has led to underestimation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the significant contribution of environmental factors to NCDs.
- To highlight the role of lifestyle behaviors and early-life exposures in disease development.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and new information on environmental exposures and NCDs.
- Analysis of associations between chemical contaminants in air, food, and water and diseases.
- Consideration of epigenetic effects and gene induction.
Main Results:
- Environmental factors contribute more significantly to NCDs than previously reported.
- Lifestyle behaviors often involve exposure to environmental chemicals, increasing disease risk.
- Early-life exposure to contaminants is linked to later-life diseases like asthma, neurodevelopmental conditions, obesity, and chronic diseases.
Conclusions:
- Effective prevention of NCDs necessitates a shift towards societal responsibility and environmental management.
- Reducing exposure to modifiable environmental risks is crucial for NCD prevention.
- Environmental factors, including chemical exposures, play a major role in the etiology of NCDs.
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