A Review on Epigenetic Effect of Heavy Metal Carcinogens on Human Health

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and premature death worldwide. Certain strategies for minimizing carcinogenic factors' exposure can reduce the risk of most cancer types in human. Millions of people around the world get exposed to high levels of heavy metals in the drinking-water. Therefore, quality control in drinking-water and detection of its heavy metals is extremely critical issue in maintaining the human health. The carcinogenicity of aluminum, arsenic, chromium, nickel and selenium has been documented previously, but in scattered fashion. Trace amount of these elements entering the body via various routes can induce genetic and epigenetic alteration in different cancer related genes of somatic and stem cells, thus involving in cancer stem cell formation. Epigenetic variations in the etiology of cancer have led to increasing of cancer research studies in last recent years. Although epigenetic effects of these elements have more prominent role than their genetics effects, these elements are able to alter the pattern of cancer-related genes' expression profiles, too. Therefore, an understanding of the underlying epigenetically mechanisms of these trace elements and the compounds, which could reduce their toxicities or the number of cancer cases due to these elements in the areas that are contaminated with these metals. Perhaps the toxic effects of these elements in many regions are predictable, but antioxidant supplements may eliminate the reactive oxygen species as leading effects of these elements. The present review article is the compilation of various studies dealt with epigenetic effects of carcinogens on human health.