Atmospheric Environmental Exposures and Human Health Across the Life Course: Mechanisms, Modeling, and Vulnerable Populations

Dear Colleagues,

Atmospheric environmental exposures, including particulate matter, gaseous pollutants, volatile organic compounds, temperature, humidity, and other climatic factors, have profound effects on human health throughout life. These exposures are linked to a broad spectrum of outcomes, ranging from chronic diseases and respiratory or cardiovascular conditions to neurodevelopmental and metabolic effects. Some populations, such as children, older adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are especially vulnerable, yet many of the mechanisms behind these health impacts remain poorly understood.

This Special Issue invites researchers from diverse disciplines to contribute innovative studies that advance our understanding of how atmospheric environments influence human health. We welcome research exploring mechanistic pathways, novel exposure assessment techniques, modeling approaches, gene–environment interactions, and population-level health outcomes. Contributions that focus on vulnerable populations, community-based or citizen science initiatives, and the evaluation of interventions or policies are particularly encouraged. Our goal is to bring together interdisciplinary perspectives to shed light on the complex relationships between atmospheric exposures and health across the life course. By highlighting cutting-edge research and fostering dialogue across fields, this Special Issue seeks to inspire new insights, inform strategies to protect susceptible populations, and guide future research on environmental determinants of health. We look forward to receiving contributions that push the boundaries of knowledge and deliver meaningful solutions to improve public health in the face of environmental challenges.

Dr. Jia Sun
Prof. Dr. Hualiang Lin
Dr. Lori Hoepner
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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