Materials of biological origin and biofuels: Small environmental footprint and epigenetic impact (Review)

Abstract

Human activity, specifically the overreliance on fossil resources, has had numerous adverse effects on the environment and an epigenetic impact on human health. The destabilization of the environment and the accumulation of waste have caused alterations in the stability of the human ecosystem, affecting the exposome and modifying the epigen-etic mechanisms that control or deregulate human physiology. For example, the increasing use of plastics and the chemicals derived, have been shown to promote diseases by altering epigenetic patterns. Thus, there is a growing need for more environmentally-and human-friendly alternatives, also known as 'green products and fuels'.