Yes, another toxic burden to learn about and look out for... Urbanisation, population growth, industrialisation, and globalisation have brought about significant changes in our lives. While these changes have brought numerous benefits (predominantly centred around comfort, profit and convenience), they've also led to the introduction of new substances into our environment. I need to caveat this by quoting The Law of Conservation of Mass from Antoine Lavoisier's.
Matter can neither be created nor destroyed
Why does this matter (excuse the pun)? Because it's not as though scientists are creating entirely NEW substances. Rather, they're processing existing matter and repurposing it in ways nature never intended. We are essentially toying with nature and because of that, 'matter' ends up where it shouldn't be. Moreover, this matter cannot be destroyed. Rather, it ends up in our bodies and back in our environment in different forms and in the wrong places.
These substances, known as xenobiotics, have the potential to harm both human health and the ecosystem at large. This article explores what xenobiotics are, their sources, and how you can minimise the impact to your own health. Understanding Xenobiotics The term "xenobiotics" originates from the Greek words "xenos" meaning foreign, and "bios" meaning life. It refers to chemicals that are found in organisms or the environment but are not produced by them. These compounds are introduced into the environment through various anthropogenic activities, including human consumption and excretion, wastewater and sewage treatment plants, livestock treatment and excretion, industries, production plants, and agricultural practices. Xenobiotics encompass a wide range of substances, including pesticides, pharmaceutical compounds, personal care products, illicit drugs, industrial products, and nuclear waste. They can be further categorised based on characteristics like their physical state, pathophysiological effects, and biochemical mechanisms. Due to their complex structures, xenobiotics are challenging to identify, quantify, and remove from the environment. Sources of Xenobiotics
Plant constituents, drugs, pesticides, cosmetics, flavourings, fragrances, food additives, industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants are all xenobiotics. Xenobiotics can enter the environment directly or indirectly through various sources. They can be released intentionally or accidentally, and originate from moving (e.g., vehicles) or stationary (e.g., industries) sources. Health and Environmental Impacts Xenobiotics pose significant threats to both human health and the environment. They can accumulate in living organisms due to their complex structures, leading to potential harm. Partial degradation of xenobiotics can result in even more dangerous by-products (both in the environment and in out bodies). The effects of xenobiotics on animals can be observed in their reproductive and immune functions. Furthermore, certain pesticides and industrial chemicals have been linked to cancer, respiratory issues, and neurological disorders. Can Humans Metabolise Xenobiotics? The metabolism of xenobiotics in humans is a complex process that involves various enzymes and pathways in the body. Xenobiotics, including synthetic chemicals like drugs and environmental pollutants, undergo biotransformation to become more polar and easily excretable. This process is crucial in reducing their toxicity and facilitating their elimination from the body. Let's take melatonin as an example. Melatonin is known as an endogenous hormone, is also consumed as a dietary supplement. At pharmacological doses, it is considered a xenobiotic and undergoes extensive metabolism. Metabolomic studies have revealed new insights into the metabolism of melatonin, including the identification of novel metabolites and the confirmation of known ones. This information is critical for understanding the physiological, biochemical, and potential toxicological effects of melatonin. Overall, metabolomic studies play a vital role in elucidating the intricate processes of xenobiotic metabolism in humans. They provide valuable insights into the formation of metabolites, potential activation pathways, and the overall impact on toxicity and pharmacology. This information is essential for evaluating the safety and efficacy of xenobiotics in various contexts, including drug development and environmental risk assessment.
Let's delve deeper into metabolism. The Role of Metabolism: Metabolism is the process by which our body transforms these xenobiotics into less harmful forms. Without this crucial step, these substances could accumulate to dangerous levels. This transformation requires energy, specialised enzymes, and essential cofactors. Breaking It Down: Phase I and Phase II Metabolism: Xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes operate in two main phases. Phase I enzymes kickstart the process, making lipophilic xenobiotics more water-soluble. This transformation sets the stage for phase II enzymes, which facilitate conjugation reactions. These enzymes interact with both xenobiotics and the products of phase I metabolism, preparing them for elimination. Transporting Xenobiotics Out: Once metabolised, these transformed substances need to be escorted out of the body. This is where transporter enzymes come into play. They assist in moving these now-polar metabolites out of cells, ensuring they don't linger and cause harm (note that it doesn't always end like this). The Complex Clearance Pathways: Most xenobiotics don't rely on just one enzyme or pathway for clearance. Instead, they navigate through a network of different enzymes and routes. The interplay between chemical concentrations, enzyme availability, and cofactor levels dictates which metabolic reactions take precedence in each individual. Potential Consequences of Increased Xenobiotic Exposure: As our exposure to xenobiotics continues to rise, our detoxification pathways face an increasing burden. Overloading these pathways can lead to a range of health issues. It's essential to be mindful of the substances we encounter daily and take steps to support our body's natural detox processes. Understanding how our body handles xenobiotics sheds light on the importance of supporting our detox pathways. As our exposure to foreign substances increases, so does the load on our metabolism and elimination systems. By making informed choices about what we expose ourselves to, we can help safeguard our health and well-being in the face of an ever-changing environment. This leads us into our final section.
How To Protect Yourself in 3 Easy Steps:
1. Reduce your exposure by avoiding pharmaceuticals wherever possible, buying non-toxic cleaning products, minimising your personal care and beauty routine to contain as little man-made chemicals as possible
2. Support your detoxification pathways. This may include doing a course of high-dose curcumin or drinking a daily liver tonic tea with ingredients such as milk thistle
3. Clean up your diet. There are SOOOOO many chemicals in our food and drinks these days. You need to read the packet of anything you eat and ideally, do not eat from packets at all. Shop at a grocer and butcher and use whole foods instead of buying factory made, industrial franken-foods.
References:
Patterson, A. D., Gonzalez, F. J., & Idle, J. R. (2010). XENOBIOTIC METABOLISM – A VIEW THROUGH THE METABOLOMETER. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 23(5), 851. https://doi.org/10.1021/TX100020P
Štefanac, T., Grgas, D., & Dragičević, T. L. (2021). Xenobiotics—Division and Methods of Detection: A Review. Journal of Xenobiotics, 11(4), 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/JOX11040009
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