Association of Childhood Asthma with the Concept of Exposomics: A Short Review

Chronic diseases such as asthma, which affect many children, require ongoing monitoring to identify agents that worsen morbidity and cause molecular changes. Asthma is a health condition with genetic and environmental influences. While the molecular mechanisms are still under investigation, the environmental component remains a pivotal part of understanding and managing the disease. The environment largely influences the development of asthma. Therefore, to obtain essential data regarding the effect of environmental exposure, it is vital to use omics science, such as exposomics. Accordingly, the purpose of this review was to collect the most essential information on asthma, with emphasis on early childhood asthma, and to provide an introduction to the role of environmental exposure in relation to asthma, with a background of exposomics. The exposome has recently become a vital interdisciplinary concept, focusing on identifying how environmental agents influence health and disease throughout a person's life. Consequently, exposomics is the study of the exposome, encompassing measurements of environmental exposure and the associated biological reactions. In addition, attention has been focused on examples of potential environmental pollutants to which children may be exposed in their immediate surroundings, including phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and secondhand smoke. Finally, this review highlights the role of exposomics studies in pediatric asthma in 3 areas: clinical, analytical, and environmental. In summary, in this article, we aim to review the potential effects of the exposome, or multiple environmental factors, on childhood asthma.