Underexplored terrain: effects of high priority environmental toxicants on skeletal muscle

Abstract

In recent decades, evidence has continuously mounted regarding the myriad adverse health effects that environmental exposures exert on human health, yet little attention has been given to skeletal muscle-related outcomes. With its important metabolic, hormonal, and functional properties, skeletal muscle exerts a critical effect on human health and quality of life. The aim of this review was to survey the literature regarding potential impacts of environmental exposures on skeletal muscle health. The focus was on 10 substances atop the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Substance Priority List including arsenic, lead, mercury, vinyl chloride, polychlorinated biphenyls, benzene, cadmium, benzo(a)pyrene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and benzo(b)fluoranthene. In addition, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl compounds were included due to an increasing interest in the field of toxicology. Cell, animal, human, and population studies were all examined to determine toxicant effects on skeletal muscle, though the literature is scarce for many individual agents. Some commonalities, such as effects on mitochondrial function and sexually dimorphic consequences, were observed across compounds. Evidence indicates the need for further investigation of this important topic, with an emphasis on longitudinal large-scale population studies, and investigations which synthesize population and mechanistic research to interrogate causality.