Mechanisms of Action of Environmental Neurotoxicants During Critical Periods of Brain Development

Dear Colleagues,

Critical periods of brain development are specific windows in early life, marked by neurogenesis and gliogenesis, cellular differentiation, migration, synaptogenesis, and myelination. During these timeframes, the developing nervous system is highly vulnerable to environmental insults. Environmental neurotoxicants—chemical agents such as heavy metals, pesticides, industrial solvents, nanomaterials, and air pollutants—pose a significant threat to neural development during these sensitive windows. Exposure, even at low levels, can disrupt finely tuned molecular and cellular processes, leading to long-term cognitive, behavioral, and emotional deficits. Understanding the mechanisms by which these agents interfere with brain development is crucial for identifying risk factors, improving public health policies, and developing preventive and treatment strategies. This Special Issue aims to explore the diverse mechanisms through which environmental neurotoxicants exert their harmful effects on the developing nervous system, which might include neurotransmitter function disbalance, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, neuroendocrine disruption, inflammation, and epigenetic modifications.

This Special Issue welcomes research contributions on recent advances in developmental neurotoxicology, including, but not limited to, molecular pathways driving the harmful effects of environmental neurotoxicant exposure during brain development; cognitive, behavioral, and mood disruption resulting from early-life exposure; and the discovery of novel biomarkers for detecting neurodevelopmental toxicity, with potential applications in diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Yael Abreu-Villaça
Guest Editor

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