Safeguarding intergenerational health: a framework for genomic sustainability

Humanity’s environmental footprint now reaches beyond ecosystems and into the molecular fabric of future generations. Experimental studies show that endocrine-disrupting chemicals, airborne pollutants, metals, dietary perturbations, and other environmental stressors can alter germ-cell genomic and epigenomic features, with some effects persisting across generations in animal models. In humans, however, evidence is strongest for exposure-associated germline alterations and intergenerational effects, whereas true transgenerational inheritance in generations without direct exposure remains insufficiently established. Despite these emerging insights, contemporary environmental governance remains anchored in short-term risk assessments and population-level metrics, providing limited consideration of potential effects on germline integrity and the health of future generations. This Perspective synthesizes advances from environmental health, epigenetics, toxicology, and sustainability science to highlight how present-day exposures constitute emerging dimensions of intergenerational environmental injustice. To address this gap, a Systems Framework for Germline Sustainability is proposed, structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars: Surveillance, Precaution, and Equity. The framework outlines actionable pathways for integrating germline integrity into regulatory regimes, sustainability indicators, and global health policies.