Sentinel Species and Environmental Pollutants Exposure in Animal Health

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 2697

Special Issue Editors


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Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: environmentals toxicology; inorganic and organic contaminants; toxicological residues; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: sentinel species; bio-indicators; inorganic and organic contaminats; environmental pollution; animals health status
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollution represents a serious risk to humans, animals, and ecosystems. Although there have been significant advances in toxicology and eco-friendly approaches, anthropogenic activities are responsible for the continuous and increasing spread of inorganic and organic contaminants (heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PCBs, pesticides, drugs, plasticizers, microplastics, etc.). Therefore, great attention is actually focused on both old and emerging contaminants. In studies on pollutant exposure and risk assessment, animal species are often used as sentinels and valid bioindicators to evaluate environmental pollution and, at the same time, animal health status, in consideration of their habitats. A significant contribution is made using animals at the top of aquatic and terrestrial food chains, particularly predatory fishes, marine mammals, wild species, birds, insects, and, recently, companion animals, as sentinels of public health. This Special Issue welcomes new methodologies and research on the following topics: ecotoxicological approaches to analysis, risk assessment for both environmental and animal health, the current state of knowledge, and future directions of research in this field.

We invite contributors from academia and education to publish all types of manuscripts, including original articles, short communications, high-quality reviews, and case reports, from several fields and disciplines (toxicology, veterinary sciences, animal welfare, analytical chemistry, ecology, environmental sciences, etc.).

Dr. Clara Naccari
Dr. Ernesto Palma
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • sentinel species
  • bio-indicators
  • inorganic and organic contaminats
  • environmental pollution
  • animals health status

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1639 KB  
Article
Fine Particulate Matter (PM) Effects on Swine Granulosa and Ovarian Endothelial Cells
by Giuseppina Basini, Roberto Ramoni, Stefano Grolli, Simona Bussolati, Laura Assogna and Francesca Grasselli
Animals 2026, 16(1), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16010081 - 27 Dec 2025
Viewed by 290
Abstract
We studied fine particulate matter (PM) effects on porcine granulosa, a model of endocrine reproductive cells, and on ovarian endothelial cells. PM produced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in metabolic activity. PM reduced endothelial cell proliferation (p < 0.001). As [...] Read more.
We studied fine particulate matter (PM) effects on porcine granulosa, a model of endocrine reproductive cells, and on ovarian endothelial cells. PM produced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in metabolic activity. PM reduced endothelial cell proliferation (p < 0.001). As for redox status, superoxide anion (O2) production by granulosa was reduced (p < 0.05) by PM, while it was increased in endothelial cells (p < 0.001). PM increased (p < 0.001) nitric oxide (NO) levels in granulosa, while in endothelial cells, it displayed a biphasic effect (p < 0.05) as well as for superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) in granulosa cells (p < 0.001). In endothelial cells, PM increased (p < 0.001) SOD. A reduction in Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) (p < 0.01) was observed. In granulosa, PM did not induce oxidative damage to DNA, while in endothelial cells, it determined a reduction (p < 0.05). PM significantly inhibited steroidogenesis (p < 0.05). The accumulation of autophagic vacuoles and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) production was increased (p < 0.05) by PM. The data obtained likely demonstrate that PM induces critical effects on ovarian cells. Full article
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14 pages, 1155 KB  
Article
The Bioaccumulation, Fractionation and Health Risk of Rare Earth Elements in Wild Fish of Guangzhou City, China
by Xiongyi Miao, Xueqin Wei, Xiqian Zhao, Yupei Hao and Wei Bao
Animals 2024, 14(24), 3567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243567 - 10 Dec 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1630
Abstract
In this study, the total content of REEs ranged from 1.32 to 67.74 μg/kg, with a predominant presence of light REEs. The ΔEu and ΔCe values, which exceeded and approached 1, respectively, indicated positive Eu anomalies and low Ce anomalies. Wild fish were [...] Read more.
In this study, the total content of REEs ranged from 1.32 to 67.74 μg/kg, with a predominant presence of light REEs. The ΔEu and ΔCe values, which exceeded and approached 1, respectively, indicated positive Eu anomalies and low Ce anomalies. Wild fish were categorized into high-, medium-, and low-REEs-bioaccumulation groups using cluster analysis. Higher LRs/HRs and ΔEu values, coupled with lower ΔCe values, in fish from the high-bioaccumulation group suggested that increased bioaccumulation mitigated fractionation. Omnivorous fish with higher REEs levels and lower LRs/HRs indicated broader feeding sources may enhance REE bioaccumulation and diminish fractionation. Elevated REEs concentrations and LRs/HRs in demersal fish highlighted a preferential accumulation of light REEs in the benthic environment. Smaller fish with higher REEs levels but lower LRs/HRs were likely associated with complex feeding sources. Regression analysis revealed that fish with lengths and weights of less than 18 cm and 130 g, respectively, were more susceptible to REEs bioaccumulation. Despite higher ADI values indicating a greater risk for children and Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, all ADI values within 70 μg/(kg·d) suggested that fish consumption poses no risk. This study confirmed that the fractionation of REEs in fish can be used to trace their bioconversion. Full article
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