Experimental substantiation of a complex of biomarkers of accelerated cellular aging under chronic exposure to industrial environment factors

Occupational activity in harmful working conditions, associated with the complex effects of physical (vibration, noise) and chemical (aromatic hydrocarbons) factors, is a significant risk of accelerated aging. The mechanisms of cellular aging induced by the combined action of physical and chemical factors at concentrations close to or slightly exceeding the maximum permissible levels remain poorly understood. Experimental studies on model organisms are the most informative method of verifying these causal relationships.

The study aims to identify and experimentally evaluate a complex of biomarkers associated with accelerated cellular aging and the development of organ damage in white rats with prolonged isolated, combined and combined exposure to physical and chemical factors of the industrial environment at the level of 1.5 MPC/MPL.

The authors have conducted a 180-day experiment on 180 Wistar rats. The experts have divided the animals into 6 groups: exposure to general vibration; noise; chemical exposure (a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons at 1.5 maximum permissible concentration); combined physical exposure (vibration + noise); combined physico-chemical exposure (vibration + noise + mixture of hydrocarbons); intact control. Additionally, 10 individuals were used in background studies. The authors assessed body weight and behavior in the "open field" test. On days 60, 120 and 180 they performed biochemical and clinical blood and urine tests, as well as a histological examination of internal organs, the scientists determined the relative length of telomeres in muscle tissue using a polymerase chain reaction in real time. They performed statistical analysis using nonparametric criteria (Mann–Whitney).

By the 180^th day of the experiment, the animals of the experimental groups showed a symptom complex of accelerated aging: decreased behavioral activity, metabolic disorders (dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia), liver and kidney dysfunction, and multiple organ structural damage. Significant telomere shortening was found in all experimental groups, most pronounced with combined and combined exposure.

Limitations. The study was conducted on a rodent model; direct correlations with the human population require validation in epidemiological studies.

Conclusion. Prolonged exposure to vibration, noise, and chemicals induces a state of chronic stress in rats with the formation of a complex of biomarkers of accelerated cellular aging: behavioral deficits, metabolic disorders, multiple organ dysfunction, and telomere shortening.

Ethics. The study was carried out in accordance with the Ethical principles of working with laboratory animals (European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrates). The protocol of the experiment was approved by the local ethics committee (LNEC Protocol No. 5 dated October 10, 2024).

Contributions:
Savchenko O.A. — research concept and design, collecting research material, writing the text of the manuscript, reviewing publications on the topic of the article, editing the text of the manuscript;
Novikova I.I. — research concept and design, editing of the manuscript text;
Poteryaeva E.L. — research concept and design, writing the text of the manuscript, review of publications on the topic of the article, editing the text of the manuscript;
Chuenko N.F. — collecting material for research;
Savchenko O.A. — writing the text of the manuscript, review of publications on the topic of the article.

Funding. The work was carried out within the framework of the research topic "The study of cellular aging and biological age processes that work with various occupational hazards in managing labor longevity" (Reg. no. AAAAA-A19-119070190016-3. State Assignment No. 141-00094-23-00 for 2023 and for the planned period of 2025).

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 03.02.2026 / Accepted: 09.02.2026 / Published: 27.03.2026

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