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Environmental Exposures and Epigenomics in Health and Disease
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Environmental Exposures and Epigenomics in Health and Disease

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 4222

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Athena Starlard-Davenport

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
Interests: breast cancer genetics; microbiome; cancer health disparities; community outreach; epigenetics; globin gene regulation; sickle cell disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Chunrong Jia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
Interests: community air pollution; exposure assessment; risk assessment; sampling and analytical techniques for air pollutants; indoor air quality (IAQ); environmental disparity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental toxins play a major role in determining human health. The foods that we eat, where we live, and the air we breathe, among other environmental factors, affect our health and may contribute to health problems, including life-threatening conditions. Environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals, plasticizers, pesticides, biological pollutants, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can be found in water, soil, food, and various synthetic products, such as hair and body products. Exposure to these toxins has been linked to increased risks of various cancers; reproductive and developmental disorders including infertility, uterine fibroids, and early puberty; cardiovascular and respiratory disease; and other human diseases. Evidence has also emerged about the link between pollution-induced epigenetic changes and the etiology of various human diseases. Addressing these environmental disparities and controlling pollution can advance health equity and improve health outcomes for all individuals.  Papers addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue, especially those that link environmental exposures to human disease. Papers that also show the effect of epigenetic  modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, miRNA, and non-coding RNA expression, on the etiology, incidence, behaviors, mortality, and other factors relevant to environmental exposures in health outcomes are also encouraged.

Dr. Athena Starlard-Davenport
Prof. Dr. Chunrong Jia
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 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 2500 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 exposure
  • epigenetics
  • health disparities
  • cancer
  • disease

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
Vaping Education: A Two-Year Study Examining Health Literacy and Behaviors in a Southeastern State
by Adrienne M. Duke-Marks, James Benjamin Hinnant, Jessica R. Norton and Linda M. Gibson-Young
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(7), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071086 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 400
Abstract
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes) are the most used nicotine products among U.S. adolescents, with usage increasing significantly from 2017 to 2019. School-based prevention programs are a critical strategy for curbing youth vaping. This study utilized a retrospective pre/post survey to evaluate the [...] Read more.
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes) are the most used nicotine products among U.S. adolescents, with usage increasing significantly from 2017 to 2019. School-based prevention programs are a critical strategy for curbing youth vaping. This study utilized a retrospective pre/post survey to evaluate the effectiveness of a two-year school-based vaping prevention program utilizing a condensed version of the Stanford University Tobacco Prevention Toolkit. The program was implemented in-person and online across two years in a southeastern U.S. state. In year one, evalua-tion data were collected from 4252 youths from 20 rural counties who completed the in-person survey during the 2018–2019 program year. In year two, 1347 youths from 13 rural and urban counties completed the survey during the program year of 2019–2020. The key findings indicate significant increases in knowledge about vaping risks post-program. The findings from year one indicate that increases in knowledge about e-cigarettes were negatively related to the frequency of vaping, but this was not replicated in year two. Moreover, knowledge did not influence vaping frequency if youths had already started vaping, while pre-program knowledge did not predict the frequency of vaping in either year. These results suggest that vaping prevention education outcomes among youths are mixed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Epigenomics in Health and Disease)
17 pages, 813 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Factors Related to High Risk of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity among Japanese High School Students
by Tamami Suzuki, Yoshiko Bai and Yuko Ohno
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070934 - 17 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1975
Abstract
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) onset in minors can greatly impact learning and future employment. This study investigated the prevalence of MCS and related factors in high school students to determine whether it was the same as in adults. A comprehensive survey was conducted [...] Read more.
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) onset in minors can greatly impact learning and future employment. This study investigated the prevalence of MCS and related factors in high school students to determine whether it was the same as in adults. A comprehensive survey was conducted on 80 high schools in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The survey incorporated the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory, as well as items related to allergies, the living environment, and lifestyle. Of the 4630 students analyzed, according to Hojo’s cut-off value, 9.0% were classified as high-risk for MCS and 77.9% reported some allergy-like symptoms. Significant factors associated with elevated MCS risk included female sex, having various allergic conditions, having experienced living in a new home or home renovations or extensions, proximity to environmental stressors (freeways, national highway, factories, rubbish dumps, or sources of offensive odors), insufficient physical activity (exercising less than once a week outside of physical education classes), having cold hands and feet, being fatigued, having a bedtime earlier than 11 p.m., and having moderate–frequent subjective stress. Overall, 9.0% of high school students in Japan are at high risk for MCS. Enhancing awareness of MCS-like symptoms and addressing allergies, living environments, and lifestyle habits may mitigate these symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Epigenomics in Health and Disease)
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Review

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45 pages, 1614 KiB  
Review
Epigenetic Consequences of In Utero PFAS Exposure: Implications for Development and Long-Term Health
by Abubakar Abdulkadir, Shila Kandel, Niya Lewis, Oswald D’Auvergne, Raphyel Rosby and Ekhtear Hossain
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(6), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060917 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1258
Abstract
In utero exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presents significant health concerns, primarily through their role in inducing epigenetic modifications that have lasting consequences. This review aims to elucidate the impact of prenatal PFAS exposure on epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone [...] Read more.
In utero exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presents significant health concerns, primarily through their role in inducing epigenetic modifications that have lasting consequences. This review aims to elucidate the impact of prenatal PFAS exposure on epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation, focusing on developmental and long-term health outcomes. The review synthesizes findings from various studies that link PFAS exposure to alterations in DNA methylation in fetal tissues, such as changes in the methylation of genes like IGF2 and MEST, which are linked to disruptions in growth, neurodevelopment, immune function, and metabolic regulation, potentially increasing the risk of diseases such as diabetes and obesity. We also highlight the compound-specific effects of different PFAS, such as PFOS and PFOA, each showing unique impacts on epigenetic profiles, suggesting varied health risks. Special attention is given to hormonal disruption, oxidative stress, and changes in histone-modifying enzymes such as histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs), which are pathways through which PFAS influence fetal development. Additionally, we discuss PFAS-induced epigenetic changes in placental tissues, which can alter fetal nutrient supply and hormone regulation. Despite accumulating evidence, significant knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding the persistence of these changes across the lifespan and potential sex-specific susceptibilities. We explore how advancements in epigenome-wide association studies could bridge these gaps, providing a robust framework for linking prenatal environmental exposures to lifetime health outcomes. Future research directions and regulatory strategies are also discussed, emphasizing the need for intervention to protect vulnerable populations from these environmental pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposures and Epigenomics in Health and Disease)
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