London twins are wanted to take part in a major study into the impact of pollution on health.
The research could provide evidence of a link to chronic conditions such as heart disease and asthma. Every year, more than 4,000 people in the capital die prematurely from pollution.
Researchers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London have NHS
funding to examine how pollutants can alter the body’s defence systems by switching genes on or off. They hope to recruit 500 pairs of twins, who can be identical or non-identical and from all ethnic backgrounds.
If one identical twin living in a more polluted area than the other goes on to develop heart disease this might indicate that pollution is to blame, rather than a hereditary health problem.
Professor Tim Spector, director of the Department of Twin Research which is carrying out the study, said: “We can measure genes better than chemicals in the air. Identical twins should have identical genes, so we will be looking for signs of any tiny chemicals to discover how pollution is affecting them.
“Existing studies on the links between pollution and health have been very non-specific. This should give us much finer detail on how pollution affects people in different ways.”
The recruitment drive is backed by 52-year-old identical twins Janet Morgan and Janese Samuels, who found out that they both have a potentially lethal heart condition after being tested several years ago. Ms Samuels, who now takes long-term medication, said: “You never know how things will turn out and the life you save might be your own.”
