The exposome is defined as the integrated compilation of all physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial factors, and their interactions, which have an impact on biology and health, according to the International Human Exposome Network (IHEN).  

Looking at the exposome when studying environmental pollution is groundbreaking because it allows researchers to explore multiple types of exposure and their impact on health at the same time. This field shifts research away from a one factor, one disease approach – which examines exposures and health impacts in isolation. 

Defining the exposome and exposomics 

Leading scientists from across the globe, including IHEN partners, came together at the Banbury Center to develop a consensus on the definition of the exposome and exposomics to support environmental health researchers. IHEN decided to adopt these definitions with minor changes after discussions at the project’s kick off meeting. Our definitions include options for more scientific and layperson audiences.

Exposomics (science-based audiences) 

A transdisciplinary field aimed at a comprehensive and discovery-based understanding of how the exposome influences biology and health.  

A field that studies the compilation of all physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial factors that impact biological systems by integrating data from a variety of interdisciplinary methodologies and streams, to enable discovery-based analysis of environmental influences on human health. 

Exposomics (lay-person’s definition) 

The comprehensive study of the effects of environmental factors on health.  

A scientific field that attempts to discover previously unknown ways in which the environment affects human health by gathering and analysing large amounts of data from many different sources, such as the air, food, chemicals, and blood, and using a variety of methodologies. 

Learn more about how these terms were defined 

Do you have any feedback or comments on IHEN’s definitions of the exposome? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and don’t forget to sign-up to be part of the International European Exposome Network.