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Environments
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Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks
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Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 5216

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Benedetto Schiavo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Interests: environmental geochemistry; environmental pollution; volcano monitoring; volcanic risk; human health risk
Prof. Dr. Diana Meza-Figueroa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, México
Interests: environmental geochemistry; medical geology; emerging contaminant; nanoparticles; human health risk
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Claudio Inguaggiato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Geología, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE), Ensenada, México
Interests: environmental geochemistry; environmental pollution; human health risk; fluid geochemistry; geothermal systems; volcano–hydrothermal systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite submissions to the Special Issue “Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks”. This volume aims to explore the complex relationships between environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals, persistent organic compounds, emerging contaminants, and their impacts on human health across diverse environmental conditions.

Our objective is to provide a multidisciplinary platform for cutting-edge research that assesses exposure pathways, identifies vulnerable groups, quantifies health risks, and proposes innovative strategies for prevention and mitigation. We particularly welcome studies employing novel analytical methods, risk assessment models, biomonitoring, and community-based approaches. We also welcome contributions focused on the characterization of contaminated sites, including the identification of pollutant sources, temporal variability, and spatial distribution.

The scope includes, but is not limited to, natural and anthropogenic pollution exposure, occupational health risks, environmental justice, and the influence of socio-economic factors on pollution-related health outcomes. Through this Special Issue, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the interplay between environmental contamination and public health, and to support evidence-based policymaking and sustainable environmental management.

Dr. Benedetto Schiavo
Prof. Dr. Diana Meza-Figueroa
Dr. Claudio Inguaggiato
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmental pollution
  • personal exposure
  • emerging contaminant
  • biomonitoring
  • occupational exposure
  • environmental justice
  • health risk assessment

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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13 pages, 853 KB  
Article
Long-Term Effect of Oral Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium on Gastrointestinal Cancer Mortality—An Ecological Study in Greece
by Konstantinos Katsas, Aristotelis Bamias, Theodora Psaltopoulou and Konstantinos Triantafyllou
Environments 2026, 13(3), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030172 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a highly toxic and carcinogenic trace element. While carcinogenicity through inhalation is well-established, gastrointestinal (GI) carcinogenicity via oral ingestion remains contentious. This study aimed to measure GI cancer mortality at Oinofyta, Greece, where the toxic waste of industries was [...] Read more.
Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a highly toxic and carcinogenic trace element. While carcinogenicity through inhalation is well-established, gastrointestinal (GI) carcinogenicity via oral ingestion remains contentious. This study aimed to measure GI cancer mortality at Oinofyta, Greece, where the toxic waste of industries was discarded in the village’s water source for a long time. An ecological study was carried out at the Oinofyta municipal unit, where the primary water supply had been contaminated with Cr(VI) for approximately three decades. Mortality data of all residents of Oinofyta for the period 2000–2021 were obtained from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, and causes of death were classified according to the ICD-10. Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) were computed, stratified by five-year age groups, biological sex, and calendar year, using the population of the entire Voiotia regional unit as the reference population. A higher all GI cancer SMR was observed during the second decade (SMR = 1.44; 95%CI = 1.03, 1.95), but not the first (SMR = 0.98; 95%CI = 0.64, 1.44). Overall, the SMR was evidently higher for males (SMR = 1.35; 95%CI = 1.0, 1.8), but not for females (SMR = 0.97; 95%CI = 0.6, 1.49). A borderline higher SMR was also observed for colorectal cancer in males (SMR = 1.63; 95%CI = 0.93, 2.65; p = 0.08). Additionally, the SMR for all GI cancers demonstrated a significant increasing trend from 2000–2009 to 2010–2021 (0.98; 95%CI = 0.64, 1.44 to 1.44; 95%CI = 1.03, 1.95). This ecological study presents a population-level association between Cr(VI)-contaminated drinking water with certain GI cancers, suggesting further research for etiological associations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks)
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24 pages, 1154 KB  
Article
Towards Healthier Space: Assessing Public Awareness About Radon-Exposure Health Risk in Buildings/Passive Houses—The Case of Serbia
by Ranka Gajić, Svetlana Batarilo, Nataša Tomić-Petrović and Jelena Nešović-Ostojić
Environments 2026, 13(3), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030165 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 549
Abstract
Radon is the most important of all sources of natural radiation, and it belongs to the main air pollutants in closed space. It is necessary to develop awareness of its harmful effects in buildings in order to take appropriate measures to reduce the [...] Read more.
Radon is the most important of all sources of natural radiation, and it belongs to the main air pollutants in closed space. It is necessary to develop awareness of its harmful effects in buildings in order to take appropriate measures to reduce the risk of exposure to it. This study assesses public awareness of radon-related risks in Serbia by analyzing four areas: general public, legislative framework, professional practices, and student knowledge. Data were collected from media sources, legal documents, conferences and scientific publications, and surveys among students of University of Belgrade. Student answers have shown that they are not aware of the danger of radon in buildings: there is a gap between knowledge about radon and about its effects in the interior space. The results also show low presence of this topic in the media and in professional circles in Serbia. This paper is a contribution to the overall efforts to spread awareness in Serbia about the problem of the presence of radon in closed spaces and the health problems it can cause. This is also important in the context of the search for energy-efficient building solutions, where the passive house is emerging as the most sustainable form. It is a relatively new concept in Serbia, so information about the harmful effects of radon in indoor spaces and about the implementation of certain strategies in passive construction for protection against radon is necessary in order to protect the health of the environment and the population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks)
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32 pages, 658 KB  
Article
A Modeling Framework Using Markov Chain and Autologistic Regression to Adjust Temporal and Spatial Dependencies for PM2.5 Trajectory Risk Prediction
by Rafiqul Chowdhury and M. Tariqul Hasan
Environments 2026, 13(3), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030154 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 251
Abstract
Data on various air-quality metrics are collected repeatedly by numerous monitoring stations worldwide to closely assess the severity of pollution. Particle pollution from fine particulate matter PM2.5 is one such measure used as an indicator of whether air quality is unhealthy. [...] Read more.
Data on various air-quality metrics are collected repeatedly by numerous monitoring stations worldwide to closely assess the severity of pollution. Particle pollution from fine particulate matter PM2.5 is one such measure used as an indicator of whether air quality is unhealthy. PM2.5 is a specific form of air contamination that negatively impacts the environment and human health when levels are above a certain threshold. As data are collected repeatedly over time at multiple locations, there may be a temporal dependence among repeated outcomes and spatial dependence between neighboring stations. Thus, it is important to assess the impact of risk factors on trajectory risk prediction. However, due to the temporal and spatial dependencies, trajectory risk prediction for such data becomes complicated, as both types of dependences must be accounted for during model building. In this paper, we propose a modeling framework that accounts for both types of dependences by incorporating Markov chains and Markov regression, using autologistics for model fitting and trajectory risk prediction. The proposed model fitting and trajectory risk prediction are illustrated using PM2.5 outdoor air pollution data from the United States from 2000 to 2020. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks)
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19 pages, 1187 KB  
Article
Risk of Cardiorespiratory Mortality Associated with Emissions from a Cement Plant: A Residential Cohort Study
by Elisa Bustaffa, Cristina Mangia, Liliana Cori, Fabrizio Bianchi, Marco Cervino, Maria Cristina Imiotti and Fabrizio Minichilli
Environments 2026, 13(3), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030153 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 288
Abstract
To evaluate the risk of cardiorespiratory mortality associated with exposure to air pollution produced by a cement plant, a population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted in an area of southern Italy (n = 29,495; follow-up 2006–2019; person-years = 317,810). Exposure areas were defined [...] Read more.
To evaluate the risk of cardiorespiratory mortality associated with exposure to air pollution produced by a cement plant, a population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted in an area of southern Italy (n = 29,495; follow-up 2006–2019; person-years = 317,810). Exposure areas were defined using the quartiles of the spatial distribution of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) mean concentration in 2016 as a proxy for the cement plant’s emissions and estimated using a meteorological–atmospheric dispersion model. The relationship between NOx and cause-specific mortality was quantified with time-dependent, sex-specific Cox regression analyses, controlling for age and proxies of socioeconomic deprivation and traffic pollution, accompanied by the confidence interval at 95% probability (CI95%) and an indicator (1 − p value) with values between 0 and 1, representing the likelihood of having a risk association. In the most exposed area, excesses of circulatory system diseases [men: HR = 1.60 (IC95% 1.24–2.06; 1 − p = 0.999); women: HR = 1.17 (0.93–1.48; 0.823)], heart diseases [men: HR = 1.66 (1.21–2.30; 0.998); women: HR = 1.24 (0.93–1.67; 0.855)], cerebrovascular diseases [men: HR = 2.11 (1.27–3.53; 0.996); women: HR = 1.52 (0.99–2.34; 0.946)], and acute respiratory diseases in women (HR = 2.46 (0.91–6.66; 0.924) were observed. The results, in line with the literature, suggest a deeper assessment of the potential impact of the cement plant, reinforcing the study design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks)
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19 pages, 1248 KB  
Article
Screening Health Risks of Trace Metals in Indoor Dust and Settleable Particles in an Industrial Coastal Basin in Chile
by Fiorella González V., Felipe Lobos O., Catia Calisto S., Ana Valdés D., Manuel A. Leiva-Guzmán and Richard Toro A.
Environments 2026, 13(3), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030146 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 388
Abstract
Industrial coastal basins that host heavy industry can concentrate metal-bearing dust in school environments. We performed a screening multi-matrix assessment across six schools in Quintero–Puchuncaví (central Chile). We measured As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Mn in surface soils (winter 2023; E1–E4 [...] Read more.
Industrial coastal basins that host heavy industry can concentrate metal-bearing dust in school environments. We performed a screening multi-matrix assessment across six schools in Quintero–Puchuncaví (central Chile). We measured As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Mn in surface soils (winter 2023; E1–E4 only), indoor settled dust, and settleable particulate matter (SPM) collected in winter (July 2023) and summer (November 2023). Concentrations were determined by ICP-OES/ICP-MS and interpreted with enrichment factors and the geoaccumulation index. A U.S. EPA screening framework was used to estimate non-carcinogenic hazard (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, as well as cumulative indices for non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic risk (Risk). SPM carried the strongest anthropogenic signal (EF up to 9900 for Cd, 408 for Cu, and 143 for Pb) and the highest summer loads (Cu > 5000 mg kg−1; Ni > 1000 mg kg−1). Cu dominated non-carcinogenic hazard (HQ up to 137), whereas ILCR was driven by Ni, As, and Cr, exceeding 10−4 and reaching 10−3 at inland/valley schools in summer. Indoor dust showed intermediate burdens, indicating indoor accumulation of outdoor-derived metals, while the winter soil survey provides a baseline indication of outdoor metal reservoirs at the sampled schools. Despite the limited sample size, the results provide screening-level evidence to inform emission control and dust mitigation in school microenvironments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks)
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9 pages, 529 KB  
Article
Backward and Historical PFOA Exposure Estimation in an Adult Population Highly Exposed in the Veneto Region
by Patrizia Bartolotta, Alan Ducatman, Enrico Ioverno, Armando Olivieri and Mario Saugo
Environments 2025, 12(9), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12090291 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 2444
Abstract
This research letter reviews the recorded serum values obtained following the detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) water contamination in Veneto, which are underestimations of the true extent of the internal contamination experienced by the exposed populations. The most likely peak serum concentrations were [...] Read more.
This research letter reviews the recorded serum values obtained following the detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) water contamination in Veneto, which are underestimations of the true extent of the internal contamination experienced by the exposed populations. The most likely peak serum concentrations were in a range with a median of 136.0 and an intequartile( IQR )of 64.8–258.3 ng/mL for young males and a median of 74.5 and an IQR of 22.6–167.4 ng/mL for young females, compared to the median serum PFOA contamination that was finally detected (64.1 for males and 30.2 ng/mL for females, respectively) when blood samples were drawn. This was 27 months after the implementation of the single granular activated carbon drinking water filtration and 30 months after the disclosure of the heavy drinking water contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution Exposure and Its Human Health Risks)
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