The Interplay Between Environmental Pollutants, Gut Microbiota, and Infections

Abstract

Environmental pollutants (EPs) have become an increasingly common health hazard. Several studies have sustained the impact of these EPs on human gut microbiota (GM). The human GM is made up of thousands of microbes that play a paramount role to maintain hosts' health by providing many physiological functions, as well as protecting the host from pathogens and aggressions. Considering the crucial role that the host's GM plays in maintaining health, its disruption (gut dysbiosis) by the EPs can increase extraordinary the risk of infections and lead to the development of several conditions. Therefore, interventions aimed to restore the gut microbial population are of great interest. This chapter examines the intricate relationship between EPs and GM, highlighting the profound impact of EPs on human health including the development of infections. Additionally, this chapter discusses the potential role of probiotics, prebiotics, and FMT in mitigating the detrimental effects of EPs on GM.