Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The exposome refers to the full range of environmental exposures an individual experiences throughout life, beginning before birth and continuing into old age. Like the genome—the set of inherited genetic instructions—the exposome shapes how genes are expressed in health and disease, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research in Context feature on June 9, 2026.
Historical public health advances, such as linking cholera to contaminated water and soot to cancer, show a long-standing recognition of environmental impacts on health. However, systematically measuring environmental effects has been more challenging than advances in genetics, including the Human Genome Project and large-scale genetic data collection.
While traditional environmental health research focused on single exposures like lead or asbestos, the exposome approach considers the complexity of real-world exposures, which often involve multiple factors. Dr. Gary Miller of Columbia University, who founded the first U.S. exposome research coordinating center with NIH support, notes that genetic factors alone do not fully explain the risks for diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, underscoring the importance of environmental influences.
Recent technological advances now allow scientists to measure environmental exposures more broadly and systematically, helping to reveal how these factors contribute to complex diseases. This integrated approach may improve understanding of disease mechanisms and guide public health interventions that address total environmental exposure.