Air pollution isn’t just about what you breathe in today. It’s about how our bodies process toxins and the invisible changes that lead to diseases over time.

In this episode, we talk to molecular and cell biologist Dr. Shaun McCullough to unpack how repeated exposure to pollutants can change how our cells respond, and why those effects aren’t the same for everyone. His laboratory group is developing methods to test the effects of chemical pollutants on airway cells by observing cellular activity and reactions in the laboratory. In this episode, he discusses evidence from a study using new approach methodologies (a.k.a. “NAMs”) to test different amounts of exposure to pollutants on human cells in a controlled laboratory setting, but using real human tissue samples.

From gene expression to personalized risk, this conversation breaks down how modern toxicology is evolving and what it could mean for public health, policy, and your everyday environment.

The views we share are our own and don’t represent our employers or affiliated organizations.

Key Words:

#airpollution #lungdisease #toxicology #NAMs #geneexpression #invitro #pollution #environmentalhealth #respiratorydisease #airwaydisease #environment #molecularbiology #researchapplications

Key Topics:

How repeated exposure to pollutants affects cells differently than one-time exposure

Why individuals respond differently to the same environmental exposures

What NAMs are and how they’re changing toxicology research

Differences between acute vs. chronic exposure

How this research can inform public health and regulation

Links:

Make Science Make Sense Podcast: https://www.makesciencemakesensepod.com

EPA Air Quality Index: https://www.airnow.gov

NIH Initiative on Complementary Animal Research: https://commonfund.nih.gov/animalresearch

Link to the paper discussed in this podcast: https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfab128