Molecular Mechanisms Linking Environmental Pollutant Exposure to Human Health and Development

Dear Colleagues,

Humans encounter environmental pollutants through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. The resulting toxicity depends on the physicochemical properties of the contaminant, internal dose, exposure route, timing and duration, co-exposures, life stage, sex, and genetic susceptibility. Pollutants may disturb cellular and tissue homeostasis through oxidative stress, DNA damage, epigenetic dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, altered receptor signaling, endocrine disruption, immune activation, impaired barrier function, and changes in microbiome–host interactions. However, the molecular events that connect environmentally relevant exposures with disease initiation and progression remain insufficiently defined.

This Special Issue will examine the molecular mechanisms through which environmental pollutants affect human health. It will cover major and emerging pollutant classes, including particulate matter and other air pollutants, metals and metalloids, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, environmental pharmaceuticals, and microplastics and nanoplastics. Studies of pollutant mixtures and interactions among chemical, particulate, and biological stressors are also encouraged. Particular attention will be given to susceptible developmental periods, including prenatal, fetal, childhood, and pubertal stages. Relevant outcomes include placental dysfunction, altered fetal programming, impaired neurodevelopment, endocrine and reproductive effects, disturbed immune maturation, and persistent epigenetic changes. Studies should account for exposure timing and should distinguish developmental effects from general systemic toxicity.

We welcome original research articles and review papers that connect characterized exposures with defined molecular or cellular endpoints. Appropriate approaches include human biomonitoring, molecular epidemiology, primary human cells, organoids, organ-on-chip systems, validated in vitro models, appropriately designed animal studies, toxicokinetic analyses, and multi-omics supported by targeted functional validation. Studies should apply exposure-relevant concentrations, report dose–response relationships, and consider internal dosimetry whenever feasible. Risk assessment studies should integrate hazard data with exposure, toxicokinetics, susceptibility, and uncertainty. Studies limited to environmental occurrence, pollutant monitoring, remediation efficiency, or ecosystem toxicity will fall outside the scope unless they establish a direct mechanistic connection with human or developmental toxicity.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• Molecular initiating events and adverse outcome pathways;
• Oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune dysregulation;
• Genotoxicity, DNA repair, and genomic instability;
• Epigenetic regulation and developmental programming;
• Mitochondrial dysfunction and altered cellular metabolism;
• Endocrine disruption and receptor-mediated signaling;
• Neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and immunological toxicity;
• Placental and maternal–fetal responses to pollutants;
• Mixture toxicity and interactions among environmental stressors;
• Toxicokinetics, internal dosimetry, and exposure–response relationships;
• Molecular biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility;
• Human biomonitoring and molecular epidemiology;
• Microplastic and nanoplastic toxicity;
• Microbiome–host interactions linked to pollutant exposure;
• Human-relevant models and new approach methodologies;
• Mechanistically informed human health risk assessment.

Dr. Agnieszka Ścibior
Prof. Dr. Juan Llopis
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-anonymized 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 Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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