"90% of the diseases we are going to have in our lifetime are environmental, the other 10% are genetic", as stated at the University of Navarra Ángel Tomás Camacho García, director physician at laboratory Lema&Bandín (Vigo) and coordinator of the area of clinical toxicology of the Spanish Society of Toxicology.

The expert, who spoke at the closing of the XXIV edition of the Master's Degree at research, development and Drug Innovation, stressed that "decades of research show that there are also environmental causes at the origin of cancer and most chronic diseases. However, despite its enormous importance, the 'environment' remains poorly understood".

The event was presided over by Iciar Astiasarán, Vice President of research; Adela López de Cerain, dean of School of Pharmacy; and Silvia Pérez and Ignacio Fernández de Trocóniz, director and Deputy Director of Master's Degree. Its coordinator, Ariane Vettorazi, presented the report of this promotion of the Master's Degree given by the School of Pharmacy, composed of 26 postgraduates from Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Peru.

Excess of free radicals

Under the degree scroll "Aging and free radicals: effects of the environment", Ángel Tomás Camacho explained how cells when producing the energy necessary for the proper functioning of the body (oxidation process) "release free radicals to fight and eliminate microbes". These are controlled by the body but in excess can "damage cells, break the natural antioxidative balance, accelerate aging and cause disease".

This excess of free radicals is also influenced by the environment. Thus, "environmental pollution is both external and internal". According to the expert, "the former come from work (aromatic hydrocarbons), from the community (pesticides), stress, geographical location, the individual's habits (intake of drugs, tobacco, alcohol or other drugs), physical activity and, above all, from per diem expenses".

The internal ones, "until now little attended to, can come, for example, from infections and inflammations suffered by the individual, and especially from the intestinal flora itself (generator of trimethylamine, a compound that constitutes a fundamental risk factor for atherosclerosis)," he continues. patron saint Hence the importance, insists Ángel Tomás Camacho, of "fighting against the excess of free radicals with a healthy diet, with the Mediterranean per diem expenses being a diet rich in antioxidants".