The Human Exposome: Integrating the Environment, Human Health, and Society for the Next 60 years.

The exposome framework promises comprehensive characterization of chemical, physical, and biological exposures shaping human health, yet the measurement capacity now vastly outpaces interpretation and action. Here, we synthesize emerging frontiers that define the translation of exposome science into prevention: moving from "chemical dark matter" in high-resolution mass spectrometry toward functional exposomics; integrating the microbial exposome as both the target and modulator of exposures; deploying AI-enabled causal inference to bridge molecular precision with population-scale patterns; and embedding exposome evidence into proactive interventions, green chemistry, environmental redesign, and environmental justice frameworks. Progress over the next six decades will depend not only on measurement comprehensiveness but also on our capacity to shift from documenting environmental harm to designing healthier environments.

Duke Scholars

Author Heileen Hsu-Kim Civil and Environmental Engineering