The Socio-Exposome: Advancing Exposure Science and Environmental Justice in a Post-Genomic Era
Laura Senier1,2, Phil Brown1,2, Sara Shostak3,2
1Department of Sociology & Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.
Environmental Sociology
|September 26, 2017
Summary
The socio-exposome framework integrates social science into environmental health research. It addresses social inequalities and socio-political factors alongside environmental exposures for better public health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- The 'exposome' concept aims to quantify environmental exposures comprehensively.
- Current exposome research often lacks social scientific theoretical and methodological integration.
- Excluding sociological expertise risks oversimplifying social issues and hindering collective action.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the 'socio-exposome' as a framework for integrative environmental health research.
- To blend sociological, public health, and environmental justice insights.
- To enhance the relevance of 'omic' technologies for public health.
Main Methods:
- Proposing a multidimensional socio-exposome framework.
- Orienting the framework around individual, local, and global axes.
- Suggesting sociomarkers and data sources for exposure identification.
Main Results:
- The socio-exposome framework necessitates comprehensive data on diverse environmental exposures.
- It emphasizes considering socio-political conditions and inequalities.
- Identifies individual, local, and global levels of environmental and social exposures.
Conclusions:
- Environmental health science must incorporate social dimensions for a holistic understanding of exposures.
- The socio-exposome framework can guide policy by predicting repercussions of corporate and regulatory practices.
- This approach promotes public health and social justice by linking environmental hazards to social inequalities.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
1.3K
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
1.3K
02:02Genomics
41.0K
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
41.0K
01:21Impact of Social Context on Individuals
366
Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...
366
01:21Dimensions of Health and Illness
11.6K
The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
11.6K
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
7.8K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
7.8K
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
1.2K
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
1.2K