Ageing at the level of telomeres in association to residential landscape and air pollution at home and work: a review of the current evidence.

Highlights • Telomere lengths are cellular memories of exposures to inflammation and oxidative stress. • Residential green space, low traffic exposure, and long-term lower exposure to particulate air pollution are associated with longer telomeres. • Adverse environmental exposures may have a long lasting molecular footprint on the ageing process, as reflected by shorter telomere length. • Shorter telomeres reflect higher disease susceptibility and a potential shorter life expectancy. • Adequate reductions in, and protections against, pollutants may lead to decreased comorbidities and increased life-expectancy. Abstract Studies suggest that leukocyte telomere length is an index of systemic ageing. Here, we discuss telomere length as a marker of biological ageing in relation to residential landscape (greenness), residential air pollution and work-related exposures. Telomere lengths are memories of cumulative oxidative and inflammatory stress, and show to have inverse associations with the risk of non-communicable diseases. For this reason, telomeres are considered as markers of biological ageing. Studies at birth, in children, young adulthood, and elderly show that residential green space, lower traffic exposure and long-term lower exposure to particulate air pollution are associated with longer telomeres. Work-related exposures including exposure to toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particulate matter are associated with shorter telomeres for a given age. In contrast to chronic exposures, evidence is present of the observation that recent exposure is associated with longer telomeres. Our overview shows that the magnitude of residential and work-related environmental factors on telomere length are often as important as many classical lifestyle factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]