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Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research...
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Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Toxicology and Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 11270

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jeroen Vanoirbeek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
KU Leuven, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, Leuven, Belgium
Interests: inhalation and dermal exposure assessment; biomonitoring; chemical sensitizers; experimental in vivo models; skin/lung interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Frequent exposure to chemical, biological and physical agents can lead to adverse health outcomes and a decreased live expectancy. Depending on age, exposure can occur in the general environment (indoors and outdoors), at  school, or at the workplace, leading to the risk of a shortened lifespan. This can arise from air and water pollution, climate change, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, and phthalates in the general environment to very specific occupational exposure to chemicals. For this Special Issue, ‘Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health’, we would like to invite you to submit your novel research on:

  • Novel environmental and occupational risks and the health effects.
  • Novel mechanisms of early adverse health effects.
  • The association or contribution of occupational exposure and health outcomes, with environmental exposure and health outcomes.
  • Development of improved risk assessment methods, with estimations of improved life quality.
  • Exposure during pregnancy and at other vulnerable moments in life (from cradle to grave).
  • Early identification of exposure and disease via novel biomonitoring methods (e.g., metabolomics or proteomics) and markers.
  • The current knowledge and meta-analysis of data.

From large-scale cohort studies to personalized medicine, what are the next steps?

Dr. Jeroen Vanoirbeek
Guest Editor

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. Toxics 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 2600 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

  • early identification
  • exposure
  • inhalation
  • dermal
  • ingestion
  • occupational
  • environmental
  • cohort research
  • in vivo research
  • disease mechanisms

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2193 KiB  
Article
Albuminuria in People Chronically Exposed to Low-Dose Cadmium Is Linked to Rising Blood Pressure Levels
by Soisungwan Satarug, Supabhorn Yimthiang, Tanaporn Khamphaya, Phisit Pouyfung, David A. Vesey and Aleksandra Buha Đorđević
Toxics 2025, 13(2), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13020081 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1120
Abstract
Exposure to low-dose environmental pollutant cadmium (Cd) increases the risks of both albuminuria and hypertension by mechanisms which are poorly understood. Here, multiple regression and mediation analyses were applied to data from 641 Thai subjects of whom 39.8%, 16.5%, 10.8%, and 4.8% had [...] Read more.
Exposure to low-dose environmental pollutant cadmium (Cd) increases the risks of both albuminuria and hypertension by mechanisms which are poorly understood. Here, multiple regression and mediation analyses were applied to data from 641 Thai subjects of whom 39.8%, 16.5%, 10.8%, and 4.8% had hypertension, albuminuria, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. To correct for interindividual differences in urine dilution and surviving nephrons, the excretion rates of Cd (ECd), albumin (Ealb), and β2-microglobulin (Eβ2M) were normalized to the creatinine clearance (Ccr) as ECd/Ccr, Ealb/Ccr, and Eβ2M/Ccr. The respective risks of having CKD and hypertension rose to 3.52 (95% CI: 1.75, 7.05) and 1.22 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.3) per doubling of the Cd body burden. The respective risk of having albuminuria increased 2.95-fold (p = 0.042) and 4.17-fold (p = 0.020) in subjects who had hypertension plus severe and extremely severe tubular dysfunction, defined according to the elevated β2M excretion rates. In multiple regression analysis, the Ealb/Ccr increased linearly with both the systolic blood pressure (SBP, β = 0.263) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP, β = 0.150), while showing an inverse association with eGFR (β = −0.180). The mediation model analyses inferred that a declining eGFR induced by Cd contributed to 80.6% of the SBP increment (p = 0.005), which then fully mediated an elevation of albumin excretion (p < 0.001). The present study provides, for the first time, evidence that causally links Cd-induced eGFR reductions to blood pressure elevations, which enhance albumin excretion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health)
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10 pages, 715 KiB  
Article
Association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 Copy Number Variation with Chromosomal Aberrations in Nuclear Power Plant Workers Exposed to Occupational Ionizing Radiation
by Joong won Lee, Younghyun Lee and Yang Jee Kim
Toxics 2025, 13(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13020073 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 675
Abstract
Exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation in occupational settings raises concerns about chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and their potential impact on genomic stability. Copy number variations (CNVs), structural genomic changes, influence susceptibility to environmental stressors and radiation-induced damage. This study analyzed CAs in 180 nuclear [...] Read more.
Exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation in occupational settings raises concerns about chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and their potential impact on genomic stability. Copy number variations (CNVs), structural genomic changes, influence susceptibility to environmental stressors and radiation-induced damage. This study analyzed CAs in 180 nuclear power plant workers exposed to occupational radiation and 45 controls, stratified by GSTM1 and GSTT1 CNVs. Workers exhibited significantly higher frequencies of chromatid-type and chromosome-type aberrations, of 5.47 and 3.01 per 500 cells, respectively, compared to 3.57 and 0.64 in controls (p < 0.001 for both). In the relatively high-exposure group, chromatid-type aberrations decreased with increasing GSTM1 and GSTT1 copy numbers. For GSTM1, individuals with zero copies showed 6.37 ± 3.47 aberrations per 500 cells, compared to 5.02 ± 3.05 for one copy and 4.67 ± 2.40 for two or more copies (p = 0.06). A similar trend was observed for GSTT1, with 6.00 ± 3.29 aberrations per 500 cells for zero copies, 5.38 ± 2.79 for one copy, and 4.11 ± 4.26 for two or more copies (p = 0.05). Poisson regression analysis further supported these findings after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, smoking status, and alcohol intake. Workers with null genotypes exhibited a 1.36-fold increase in chromatid-type aberrations compared to those with higher copy numbers under relatively high-exposure conditions, suggesting a synergy effect between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in modulating radiation-induced aberrations. These findings underscore the role of genetic susceptibility, particularly involving GSTM1 and GSTT1 CNVs, in modulating radiation-induced chromosomal damage. The observed gene–environment interaction in the relatively high-exposure group suggests that pre-existing CNVs contribute to chromosomal instability under radiation exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health)
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13 pages, 1077 KiB  
Article
Considerations and Challenges for Acute Inhalation Toxicity Testing and Classification of Zinc Sulphide Under REACH
by Gustav Gerd Bruer, Noömi Lombaert, Arne Burzlaff, Christine Spirlet, Daria Gödecke, Mehmet Ramazanoglu and Otto Creutzenberg
Toxics 2025, 13(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13010027 - 31 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1203
Abstract
Zinc sulphide is a widely used inorganic powder, and its production has reached quantities greater than 1000 t/year. Therefore, in accordance with OECD guideline 436, an acute inhalation test was implemented to provide more accurate data. This study is crucial for ensuring the [...] Read more.
Zinc sulphide is a widely used inorganic powder, and its production has reached quantities greater than 1000 t/year. Therefore, in accordance with OECD guideline 436, an acute inhalation test was implemented to provide more accurate data. This study is crucial for ensuring the safety of workers exposed to zinc sulphide dust and complying with regulatory requirements for REACH. Due to particle-specific properties, the maximum attainable concentration of zinc sulphide for an inhalation study was not certain. Two dry dispersion systems were used to aerosolize the zinc sulphide powder, and the generated aerosol was supplied to a nose-only inhalation exposure system. The results showed a maximum attainable concentration of 0.82 mg/L at an MMAD of 1.5 µm over a 4 h exposure. In the inhalation study, all six rats showed no specific symptoms and good health status and survived a post-exposure observation period of up to 14 days. From the results observed, the status of Not classified was derived according to CLP. Based on the experimental results, an LC50 was not determined but is considered to be higher than 0.82 mg/L (the maximum achievable aerosol concentration). These findings highlight the importance of documenting efforts to achieve aerosol conditions when concentrations required by OECD test guidelines cannot be reached. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health)
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14 pages, 2146 KiB  
Article
Immunological Effects of Diesel Particles in a Murine Model of Healthy Mice
by David Soler-Segovia, Miquel de Homdedeu, Silvia Sánchez-Díez, Christian Romero-Mesones, David Espejo, Fopke Marain, Jeroen Vanoirbeek, Xavier Munoz and María-Jesús Cruz
Toxics 2024, 12(8), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12080530 - 23 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1055
Abstract
Introduction: Exposure to environmental pollutants such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP) increases the risk of respiratory disease exacerbation. However, the possible effects of these particles on the general population remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to assess the immunomodulatory and inflammatory effects [...] Read more.
Introduction: Exposure to environmental pollutants such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP) increases the risk of respiratory disease exacerbation. However, the possible effects of these particles on the general population remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to assess the immunomodulatory and inflammatory effects of the inhalation of DEP in a model of healthy mice undergoing short-, mid- and long-term exposure. Materials and Methods: BALB/c ByJ mice were randomly divided into five experimental groups. The control group received three intranasal instillations of saline over 8 days while the other four groups received intranasal instillations of 150 µg of DEP 3 days per week for 8, 17, 26, and 53 days. Lung function assessment and flow cytometry were performed. Results: In lung tissue, intranasal exposure to DEP decreased total monocytes (p < 0.015 in all groups). At 26 days, a reduction in inflammatory monocytes and an increase in resident monocytes were observed, p = 0.001 and 0.0001, respectively. Eosinophils and neutrophils decreased at 26 days (p = 0.017 and p = 0.041, respectively). The intranasal challenges of DEP increased the total population of dendritic cells (DC) at 26 and 53 days (p = 0.017 and p = 0.022, respectively) and decreased the total and alveolar populations of macrophages (p < 0.003 for all groups compared to control), while interstitial macrophage populations increased over the time period (p = 0.0001 for all groups compared to control). Conclusions: Continuous DEP exposure triggers immune mechanisms that predispose healthy individuals to a pro-inflammatory and hyper-reactive microenvironment. This mouse model provides evidence of the capacity of DEP to increase DC, interstitial macrophages, and resident monocytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health)
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11 pages, 968 KiB  
Article
Personal Exposure to Sulfuric Acid in the Electroplating Industry: Development and Validation of a Predictive Model
by Austin B. Wang, Kai-Jen Chuang, Ven-Shing Wang and Ta-Yuan Chang
Toxics 2024, 12(7), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12070489 - 3 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1323
Abstract
This study aimed to measure personal exposure to sulfuric acid in the electroplating industry to establish a predictive model and test its validation. We collected indoor air parameters and related information from four electroplating plants. Silica gel sorbents were used to collect air [...] Read more.
This study aimed to measure personal exposure to sulfuric acid in the electroplating industry to establish a predictive model and test its validation. We collected indoor air parameters and related information from four electroplating plants. Silica gel sorbents were used to collect air samples using high-performance ion chromatography. We collected air samples from three plants (i.e., Plant B, Plant C, and Plant D) and applied multiple linear regressions to build a predictive model. Eight samples collected from the fourth plant (i.e., Plant A) were used to validate the model. A total of 41 samples were collected with a mean of 25.0 ± 9.8 μg/m3 (range 12.1–51.7 μg/m3) in this study, including Plant A (8 samples, 17.5 ± 2.8 μg/m3, 13.0–22.0 μg/m3), Plant B (11 samples, 36.5 ± 9.7 μg/m3, 23.1–51.7 μg/m3), Plant C (11 samples, 16.4 ± 1.7 μg/m3, 12.1–17.8 μg/m3), and Plant D (11 samples, 27.4 ± 1.7 μg/m3, 24.1–29.9 μg/m3). Plant B was significantly higher in sulfuric acid than the other plants. Workers from the electroplating process plants were exposed to sulfuric acid at 29.0 ± 11.5 μg/m3. The predictive model for personal exposure to sulfuric acid fit the data well (r2 = 0.853; adjusted r2 = 0.837) and had an accuracy of 5.52 μg/m3 (bias ± precision; 4.98 ± 2.38 μg/m3), validated by the personal sampling of the fourth plant. This study observed that sulfuric acid exposure was lower than the permissible exposure level of 1000 μg/m3 in Taiwan and the United States, and only two samples were lower than the European Union standard of 50 μg/m3. The developed model can be applied in epidemiological studies to predict personal exposure to sulfuric acid in plants using electroplating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health)
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Review

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20 pages, 2872 KiB  
Review
Challenges in Toxicological Risk Assessment of Environmental Cadmium Exposure
by Soisungwan Satarug
Toxics 2025, 13(5), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13050404 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 31
Abstract
Dietary exposure to a high dose of cadmium (Cd) ≥ 100 µg/day for at least 50 years or a lifetime intake of Cd ≥ 1 g can cause severe damage to the kidneys and bones. Alarmingly, however, exposure to a dose of Cd [...] Read more.
Dietary exposure to a high dose of cadmium (Cd) ≥ 100 µg/day for at least 50 years or a lifetime intake of Cd ≥ 1 g can cause severe damage to the kidneys and bones. Alarmingly, however, exposure to a dose of Cd between 10 and 15 µg/day and excretion of Cd at a rate below 0.5 µg/g creatinine have been associated with an increased risk of diseases with a high prevalence worldwide, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), fragile bones, diabetes, and cancer. These findings have cast considerable doubt on a “tolerable” Cd exposure level of 58 µg/day for a 70 kg person, while questioning the threshold level for the Cd excretion rate of 5.24 µg/g creatinine. The present review addresses many unmet challenges in a threshold-based risk assessment for Cd. Special emphasis is given to the benchmark dose (BMD) methodology to estimate the Cd exposure limit that aligns with a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL). Cd exposure limits estimated from conventional dosing experiments and human data are highlighted. The results of the BMDL modeling of the relationship between Cd excretion and various indicators of its effects on kidneys are summarized. It is recommended that exposure guidelines for Cd should employ the most recent scientific research data, dose–response curves constructed from an unbiased exposure indicator, and clinically relevant adverse effects such as proteinuria, albuminuria, and a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These are signs of developing CKD and its progression to the end stage, when dialysis or a kidney transplant is required for survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health)
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Other

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22 pages, 499 KiB  
Systematic Review
Fertilizers and Human Health—A Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Evidence
by Christos F. Tagkas, Evangelos C. Rizos, Georgios Markozannes, Maria A. Karalexi, Lydia Wairegi and Evangelia E. Ntzani
Toxics 2024, 12(10), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12100694 - 26 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5003
Abstract
Background: Fertilizers are widely used to supply nutrients to crops, thereby increasing yields and soil fertility. However, the effects of their production and application on human health through occupational, residential, and environmental exposure remain unclear. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of epidemiological [...] Read more.
Background: Fertilizers are widely used to supply nutrients to crops, thereby increasing yields and soil fertility. However, the effects of their production and application on human health through occupational, residential, and environmental exposure remain unclear. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of epidemiological studies on the association between exposure to fertilizers and health-related outcomes. Methods: We searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and ecological studies (up to May 2024) related to exposure to fertilizers and any reported human health endpoints across all age groups, without language or geographical limitations. Data were extracted for population and study characteristics, type of fertilizer used, exposure assessment, sample size, outcome and its definition, effect estimate, and quality characteristics from the eligible studies, and they were descriptively synthesized. Results: We found 65 eligible publications, with 407 postulated associations. Forty-six publications (321 associations) assessed exposure to inorganic fertilizers, and nineteen studies (93 associations) assessed organic fertilizers. Exposure assessed was related to occupation, residence, and/or proximity. The assessed outcomes were diverse, with considerable harmonization challenges. Inorganic fertilizers have been associated with an increased risk of cancerous outcomes in a small number of studies with methodological limitations and low replication validity, while organic fertilizers have been associated with infections and diarrhea. Conclusions: The epidemiological evidence suggests possible associations between inorganic fertilizers with solid organ tumors and hematological malignancies and organic fertilizers with infections and diarrhea. However, the available evidence is limited, and heterogeneity prevails. Further research is needed to enlarge the evidence base and increase the replication validity and robustness of the results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational and Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epidemiology: From Basic Research to Human Health)
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