Fecha de publicación: 15/10/2024 Fuente: Biomolecules - Revista científica (MDPI) Biomolecules, Vol. 14, Pages 1302: DNA Methylation as a Molecular Mechanism of Carcinogenesis in World Trade Center Dust Exposure: Insights from a Structured Literature Review
Biomolecules doi: 10.3390/biom14101302
Authors:
Stephanie Tuminello
Nedim Durmus
Matija Snuderl
Yu Chen
Yongzhao Shao
Joan Reibman
Alan A. Arslan
Emanuela Taioli

The collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) buildings in New York City generated a large plume of dust and smoke. WTC dust contained human carcinogens including metals, asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins), and benzene. Excess levels of many of these carcinogens have been detected in biological samples of WTC-exposed persons, for whom cancer risk is elevated. As confirmed in this structured literature review (n studies = 80), all carcinogens present in the settled WTC dust (metals, asbestos, benzene, PAHs, POPs) have previously been shown to be associated with DNA methylation dysregulation of key cancer-related genes and pathways. DNA methylation is, therefore, a likely molecular mechanism through which WTC exposures may influence the process of carcinogenesis.