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Heavy Metal Exposure on Health
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Heavy Metal Exposure on Health

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 930

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rosanna Mallamaci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: sex gender physiology; neurological diseases; bioactive compounds; drug delivery system; in vitro toxicology; metal toxicity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Heavy metals are chemical elements characterized by high density and toxicity, even at low concentrations. Human exposure to these substances has significantly increased due to industrialization, mining activities, pesticide use, and rising environmental pollution. Their widespread presence in water, soil, and air poses a serious threat to public health, with harmful effects that can manifest both in the short and long term. Their toxicity operates through various biological mechanisms, including oxidative stress, enzyme inhibition, disruption of cell signalling, DNA damage. This Special Issue aims to provide an indepth examination of the complex biological and molecular mechanisms through which heavy metal exposure induces toxicity and contributes to the development of various diseases. Specifically, it will explore the interactions between heavy metals and cellular systems, with a focus on oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic alterations, and DNA damage key factors in the onset of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, oncological, and metabolic disorders.

At the same time, this collection of studies seeks to investigate innovative strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of toxic metal exposure. Emerging therapeutic approaches will be analysed, including the use of chelating agents, antioxidants, and epigenetic modulation strategies, as well as preventive interventions aimed at reducing environmental exposure and identifying early biomarkers of toxicity.

We therefore invite the scientific community to contribute with comprehensive reviews, original research studies, and innovative perspectives that can expand our understanding of this issue and pave the way for new solutions to protect human and environmental health.

Dr. Rosanna Mallamaci
Guest Editor

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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 Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • heavy metals
  • toxic metal exposure
  • oxidative stress
  • mitochondrial dysfunction
  • epigenetic alterations
  • physiological and molecular pathways of cellular toxicology
  • biomarkers of toxicity
  • chelating agents
  • antioxidants
  • therapies or treatments

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4972 KB  
Article
Trace Elements in Different Blood Products Used in Neonatal Transfusion: Arsenic and Selenium
by Sanaa M. Aly, Hidi A. A. Abdellatif, Yasmine G. Mohamed, Radwa A. M. Soliman, Mohamed Osama Abdalla, Nada Hosny Ahmed Ali, Abdullah A. Hashish, Nicolas Beauval, Jean-Michel Gaulier, Delphine Allorge, Nancy Shalaby and Ahmed Omran
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 8853; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26188853 - 11 Sep 2025
Viewed by 388
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a toxic trace element with neurodevelopmental, carcinogenic, and other adverse effects. Meanwhile, selenium (Se) is an antioxidant trace element with essential physiological roles in humans. The preterm neonate is the most heavily transfused patient. The multiple blood transfusions could expose [...] Read more.
Arsenic (As) is a toxic trace element with neurodevelopmental, carcinogenic, and other adverse effects. Meanwhile, selenium (Se) is an antioxidant trace element with essential physiological roles in humans. The preterm neonate is the most heavily transfused patient. The multiple blood transfusions could expose this vulnerable group to trace elements with variable effects. This study aimed to quantify As and Se in various blood products that were used in neonatal blood transfusions alongside an estimate of a dose per transfusion. In addition to exposure quantification, database mining and molecular docking analysis were performed to explore potential detoxification strategies. Samples from transfusion bags: N = 120; 30 samples of each type of blood product (plasma, platelets, packed RBCs (pRBCs), and whole blood “WB”) were analyzed for As and Se by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The As and Se medians of all blood units were 0.6 and 74 μg/L, respectively. About 20% of donors have As levels above 1 μg/L. In addition, 74% of donors have Se levels less than 100 μg/L (the level of sub-optimal activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase), and 60% of the donors have Se levels below the accepted minimum Se level (80 μg/L). The pRBCs were the units with the highest As and Se content. Meanwhile, WBs were the units with the highest dose per transfusion. Key methyl donors—folic acid, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and glutathione (GSH)—showed strong binding affinity to the active site of arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT), a crucial enzyme in As metabolism. These ligands interacted with conserved catalytic residues such as ASN173, ASP115, and CYS92, suggesting a supportive role in enhancing As methylation and clearance. The present study highlights that neonates are exposed to As and Se via different blood product transfusions with high potential to increase As and decrease Se after transfusion. It is recommended to select donors and screen blood units with optimal Se levels and minimal As content for neonatal transfusions. The integration of in silico docking with exposure assessment adds mechanistic insight and highlights the potential for targeted nutritional interventions to reduce As toxicity in vulnerable neonatal populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heavy Metal Exposure on Health)
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Review

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10 pages, 813 KB  
Review
Putative Effects of Lead on the Endocannabinoid System: A Literature Review and Summary
by Gersham J. Rainone, Phillip Mitchell Johansen, Peter Pressman and Andrew Wallace Hayes
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 8994; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26188994 - 16 Sep 2025
Viewed by 253
Abstract
Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in numerous compounds used in everyday life. Toxicity from lead is a well-known public health problem. Its effects are implicated in multiple tissues, encompassing the gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. Endocannabinoid receptors are involved in [...] Read more.
Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in numerous compounds used in everyday life. Toxicity from lead is a well-known public health problem. Its effects are implicated in multiple tissues, encompassing the gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. Endocannabinoid receptors are involved in each of these systems, but the effects of lead on the receptors themselves are not well elucidated. In the neurological system, lead has varying interactions with neurotransmitters and downstream regulators implicated in neuronal transmissions influenced by endocannabinoid receptor function. Lead’s effect is likely indirect on endocannabinoid receptor function; however, its influence on neuronal function is likely inhibitory to the receptor’s functioning. Lead has also been implicated in oxidative stress states, which would influence endocannabinoid receptors’ function. The literature clearly supports lead having a negative impact on the overall function of endocannabinoid receptors, setting the stage for pathological states related to diminished neurosynaptic function and, in embryology, altered neuronal development, especially of the neural tube. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heavy Metal Exposure on Health)
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